Continuous separation and concentration of microgels (B06)

• Subject Area: Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering
• Term: from 2012 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 191948804

Progressing from the first-period work, we will firstly extend our cross-flow ultrafiltration studies to ionic microgels by accounting for microion-induced effects on diffusion-advection transport, and the size dependence of the microgels on salinity, concentration and pressure. Secondly, microfiltration of large microgels will be studied where the near-membrane concentration profile is established by shear-induced migration. Thirdly, membrane fouling in a dead-end filtration setup will be explored, using electric impedance spectroscopy and theoretical modeling. Fourthly, using a microfluidic setup, we will study with microscopic resolution the formation and structure of fouling layers.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 985: Functional Microgels and Microgel Systems
• Applicant Institution: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Bernhard Blümich, until 6/2016; Professor Dr. Jan Karel George Dhont, from 6/2016 until 6/2016; Professor Dr. Gerhard Nägele; Professor Dr.-Ing. Matthias Wessling