Resistance factors, interaction phenomena

As in other pressure-driven membrane processes, control of membrane fouling is a key factor in the operation of an MBR system. Membrane fouling manifests as a decline in flux with time of operation, reducing productivity and shortening membrane life (Nilsson, 1990). It is a complex phenomenon, depending on specific membrane-solution interactions and caused by the build-up of particles in the form of a cake layer onto the membrane surface which introduces additional resistance to permeate flow or by a complete or partial blocking of membrane s pores which changes the effective pore size distribution (Field et al, 1995). 

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