Brownian diffusion particle-capture mechanism

Figure 2.34 Particle capture mechanism in filtration of liquid solutions by depth microfilters. Four capture mechanisms are shown simple sieving electrostatic adsorption inertial impaction and Brownian diffusion...

The mechanism of particle capture by depth filtration is more complex than for screen filtration. Simple capture of particles by sieving at pore constructions in the interior of the membrane occurs, but adsorption of particles on the interior surface of the membrane is usually at least as important. Figure 2.34 shows four mechanisms that contribute to particle capture in depth membrane filters. The most obvious mechanism, simple sieving and capture of particles at constrictions in the membrane, is often a minor contributor to the total separation. The three other mechanisms, which capture particles by adsorption, are inertial capture, Brownian diffusion and electrostatic adsorption [53,54], In all cases, particles smaller than the diameter of the pore are captured by adsorption onto the internal surface of the membrane. 

The second mechanism is capture by Brownian diffusion, which is more of a factor for smaller particles. Small particles are easily carried along by the moving fluid. However, because the particles are small, they are subject to random Brownian motion that periodically brings them into contact with the pore walls. When this happens, capture by surface adsorption occurs. 

Particle capture occurs through an interception mechanism. Because of the strong electrostatic forces operating in the experimental system, the contribution of Brownian diffusion to particle capture is negligible. 

Following Spielman and the aims of this book, our discussion is confined to the capture of particles in liquid suspension from low-speed laminar flows, where the particles are generally small compared with the collector. The two principal transport mechanisms are (a) Brownian diffusion for submicrometer-size particles, and (b) interception of micrometer-size, nondiffusing, inertia free particles with the collector as a consequence of geometrical collision due to particles following fluid streamlines. Inertial impaction, which can be important for gas-borne particles, is usually unimportant for particles in liquids, because the particle—fluid density difference is smaller and the higher viscosity of liquids resists movement relative to the fluid (Spielman 1977). In this section we shall... 

X 10 cm/sec to 1.2 x 10 cm/sec), the contributions of other mechanisms like Brownian diffusion and particle inertia to total capture can be neglected in comparison to that of the mechanism of direct interception. 

It is widely accepted that the fibres in the filter fabric capture the dust particles by one of several mechanisms, these being identified as inertial impaction, interception,diffusion (Brownian motion) and electrostatic forces (see Rg. 7.1). Inertial impaction occurs when particles are of sufficient mass and bulk as to leave the gas stream and make a direct impact on a fibre in the filter. 

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