Membrane Compaction

Membrane compaction is a phenomenon that occurs in pressure driven membrane processes, where pressure tests the mechanical strength of the polymeric membrane. The flux response to pressure during membrane compaction is illustrated in the drawing below. If no membrane compaction occurred, flux would have a linear correlation with pressure. The deformation caused by membrane compaction is often irreversible.

Compaction occurs more frequently in reverse osmosis since the applied pressures are relatively high. However, compaction may also occur in nanofiltration and ultrafiltration processes, depending on the pressure employed.