Comparative assessment of the efficiencies of gas sparging and back-flushing to improve yeast microfiltration using tubular ceramic membranes

Gas sparging and back-flushing treatments were compared as a means to tackle the problem of fouling in yeast microfiltration. Based on the feed and membrane characteristics, it was shown that either of these techniques could be superior to the other in order to overcome the problem. At more concentrated feed streams the main cause of flux decline was cake formation. In this condition gas sparging showed greater efficiency in flux enhancement. On the other hand at lower feed concentration the relative importance of internal fouling due to pore blockage, increased. In this case back-flushing was more effective.