The Core Mechanism of Membrane Fouling in Membrane Separation Equipment

The core of membrane fouling in membrane separation equipment stems from the adhesion and accumulation of various components in the medium on the membrane surface and within the pores. When the mixed medium flows through the membrane surface, colloids, large molecular solutes, and fine solid particles are gradually adsorbed onto the membrane surface, forming a thin layer that continuously reduces the permeability space of the membrane pores and alters the original permeability of the membrane.

Under fluid pressure, soluble components in the medium easily crystallize and accumulate within the membrane pores, causing internal blockage. This deep-seated fouling cannot be eliminated by conventional fluid flushing and directly alters the membrane's sieving and permeability characteristics. As the fluid continues to flow through the membrane, pollutants accumulate, gradually transitioning from surface coverage to deep blockage, forming persistent membrane fouling.

Concentration polarization generated by fluid movement exacerbates the fouling accumulation effect, enriching the solute concentration on the membrane surface and accelerating the adsorption and crystallization process, thus speeding up the accumulation of the fouling layer. The long-term accumulation of fouling layers increases fluid permeability resistance, alters membrane sieving accuracy, and weakens equipment separation efficiency, which is the core reason for the performance degradation of membrane separation equipment.