Monte Carlo simulation of pore blocking phenomena in cross-flow microfiltration

An off-lattice Monte Carlo method was developed to examine the pore blocking phenomena in cross-flow microfiltration. Membranes were generated by randomly distributed pores with a given pore size distribution on a two-dimensional plane. The permeability of particles through the membrane pores was calculated, and the effects of crucial factors on the reduction of permeability were discussed. Reasonable fouling rules for simulations were examined and selected. At the initial stage the flux decreases sharply as the filtration time increases and then a steady state is reached. The results fit the pore blocking mechanism well. The simulation model developed in this study can be effectively used for analyzing a number of factors influencing physical fouling of membranes.