Modeling and optimal operation of intermittent feed diafiltration for refining oligodextran using nanoporous ceramic membranes

Developing a facile and efficient model for the prediction and optimization of diafiltration processes is desired in the separation and purification of functional oligosaccharides. Herein, a data-driven model was proposed to describe the intermittent feed diafiltration process. To evaluate this model, oligodextran was applied as a representative oligosaccharide, and a nanoporous ZrO₂ ceramic membrane was employed to narrow the molecular weight distribution of oligodextran. The role of concentration polarization effect in affecting the flux and solute rejection was well considered in the modeling of the diafiltration process. The permeation flux and yields predicted by this model agreed well with the experimental data. More importantly, the maximum productivity could be determined by this model, which takes the diluent consumption and the operation time into account, simultaneously, in optimizing of the diafiltration process. The proposed diafiltration model performs a good potential to be a candidate in the auxiliary design for the separation and purification processes of functional oligosaccharides.