Stabilisation of the water permeability of mineral ultrafiltration membranes: An empirical modelling of surface and pore hydration

This work focuses on the study of the hydration phenomenon operating in Na–mordenite membranes during the conditioning step (stabilisation of filtration properties). First, experimental (filtration of pure water) tests are carried out immediately after putting the membrane in its casing and until the stabilization of the membrane permeation flux. The evolution of the hydraulic permeability shows that there are two separate steps during the conditioning of the membrane. A numerical approximation of the hydraulic permeability during the conditioning step was carried out. The first part of the equation expresses a fast decrease in the membrane's permeability during the beginning of the conditioning step (several hours). This behaviour is attributed to a surface hydration of the membrane and also to a modification of the crystalline framework. The second one is a slower phenomenon that takes place until the end of the conditioning step. It is attributed to the (intra-crystalline) hydration of micropores.