Evaluation of membrane fouling models based on bench-scale experiments: A comparison between constant flowrate blocking laws and artificial neural network (ANNs) model

Both the blocking laws and ANNs models have been used frequently in membrane filtration process in recent years. However, specially applying these models in constant flowrate condition with synthetic surface water is rare case. Further, there has no literature been found to compare the performance of purely mathematic and mechanical model (blocking laws) with the so-called black-box ANNs model. In this study, the performance of both blocking laws and ANNs model is evaluated. The dominant fouling mechanisms in specific experimental period also is identified based on the individual model fitting performance. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.