Membrane Fouling Characterization by CSLM

More recently, other applications of CSLM in the characterization of membrane processes have been reported, such as the studies of Hayama et al. [26, 27] who visualized the distribution of an endotoxin trapped in an endotoxin-blocking filtration dialysis membrane. In their first study [26], they found that endotoxins were practically rejected by the outer skin layer of a polyester-polymer alloy (PEPA) membrane, hence playing a vital role in endotoxin removal from the dialysate fluid. In a second work [27], CSLM contributed successfully to visualize the distribution of endotoxin fiuorescently labeled in six kinds of dialysis membranes. They concluded that a dialysis membrane favorable for endotoxin blocking should have a double skin layer structure, composed of a hydrophilic inner skin layer and a completely hydrophobic void and outer skin layers. 

The aforementioned studies using CSLM to characterize protein/membrane interactions have been the basis of the research carried out by our research group to characterize membrane fouling during the microfiltration of protein mixtures 

Membrane fouling characterization of protein/dextran mixtures has also been studied [29]. The first step of this work was addressed to examine the influence of fluorescent labeling on membrane fouling. Permeate fluxes of BSA/dextran 

As the second step of this work, CSLM was used to determine how the dextran molecular weight affected the fouling pattern of protein/dextran solutions. It was observed that, independently of the fluorescent labeling, the solution with BSA 

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