A lab-scale spinning basket membrane module for the assessment of humic acids ultrafiltration with effect of sonication on membrane fouling

In the current study, humic acids ultrafiltration was explored using spinning basket membrane module at different transmembrane pressure drops (207, 276, 345, and 414 kPa), rotational speeds (10.47, 20.99, 31.41, 52.36, and 73.30 rad s⁻¹) and different concentration of HAs (50, 150, and 250 mg L⁻¹). The internal pore blocking characteristics was investigated using modified Hermia’s pore clogging models like complete, standard, intermediate pore blocking, and the cake filtration model. After ultrafiltration of 50 mg L⁻¹ solution, the cleaning process of fouled membrane was carried out using a system inbuilt back rotation of the membrane basket (10.47–52.36 rad s⁻¹) and compared with the effect of ultrasonication (ultrasound power: 120 W, frequency: 50 kHz) for the same fouled membrane at the different sonication time interval (5–25 min). The maximum cleaning efficiency of 88% was observed at 25 min of ultrasonication of fouled membrane.