1. How tangential microfiltration membranes work

The shape, dimensions, distribution of equivalent diameters and density (porosity) of tangential microfiltration membranes are determined by the way the pores are obtained (Table 1 ) . However, the thickness of the membrane determines the type of pore: tortuous or capillary. Most crossflow microfiltration membranes are thick membranes, often analogous to ultrafiltration membranes. They are usually designed to treat liquid media, which means that the material they are made of must be able to withstand the widest possible variety of solutions, whether inorganic or organic, some containing particles with an abrasive effect.

It is generally accepted that the selectivity and permeability of microfiltration membranes result essentially from the sieving effect of the pores . However,...