As an international student, I am very excited about the new experience at Clemson University. Compared studying in China, everything is totally different for me. “Learning machine” is a phase from China that describes Chinese students only pursue the top grade in school. But American universities emphasize helping students to explore their individual power.
In Dr.ladner’s group, I am working with hollow fiber membranes. The membranes are the most common configuration for MF and UF filtration, which have external diameter ranging from 0.5 to 2mm, and a wall thickness ranging from 0.07 to 0.6mm. The membrane filters operate over a repeating filtration cycle like granular filters, which is unlike NF and RO membranes. After filtration for a set duration, the accumulated solids are removed by backwashing with air and/or water. Once clean, the filter is put back into service.
In this experiment, I measure the true flux of hollow fiber membrane. True flux is water flux dividing by pressure. The first step, to achieve the goal, is determining the mass accumulations in given unit interval at specific pressures. In this process, the flow rate of water through out the membrane could be measured. Then using microscope take several pictures of the membrane. Compare these pictures with hemacytometer, and estimate the inside diameter. Therefore, the membrane area would be determined. In the further work, I will check other factors that would affect the true flux.
