Patent ID: 7674382
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A method of cleaning a fouled and/or scaled ultrafiltration(UF) or microfiltration(MF) membrane in a membrane separation system comprising: (a) treating the membrane in a membrane separation system with a solution containing one or more thermo-responsive polymers (TRP), wherein said TRP is soluble in said solution and wherein said TRP is added to said membrane separation system in an effective amount so that TRP diffuses into a foulant layer that is present on the surface and/or in pores of said membrane in said membrane separation system, wherein said TRP is a co-polymer of one or more monomers having formula —CH (b) making the TRP that has diffused into said foulant layer insoluble in said membrane separation system; (c) optionally rinsing the membrane; (d) optionally backwashing the membrane with air and/or liquid between the steps (b) and (c); and (e) optionally backwashing the membrane with air and/or liquid after the membrane is rinsed in step (c).