Retention of pegs in cross-flow ultrafiltration through membranes Original Research Article

This work investigated the difference between membrane cut-offs measured with the CHARMME methods and the values quoted from the manufacturers. Four different membranes were characterised. The two regenerated cellulose membranes that according to the manufacturers had cut-offs of 5 and 10 kD had, in fact, the same cut-off of 2.5 kD. It was also found that the polyethersulfone membrane had a lower cut-off (3 kD) than that stated by the membrane manufacturers (5 kD). A cross-flow velocity of 2 m/s and a flux of 40 l/h/m2 was found to keep the mass transfer coefficient within a tolerable range for all PEGs used.