Dr Yun Ye

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Contact Information: E-mail: click here

Profile:

• B.Eng., Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, China, 1996
• M.Eng. Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, China, 1998

---

Research Project Summary:

This project aims to study the fouling of polymeric membranes by macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides. The influence of macromolecules on particulate fouling is also investigated. Two investigations are being carried out:

• Reversibility of mixed yeast-protein cakes formed during microfiltration.

It is found that the existence of even small amount of protein will influence the reversibility of fouling cake.

• Fouling study of a polysaccharide (sodium alginate) solution as a substitute for extracellular polymeric substances in an MBR.

The specific cake resistance and cake compressibility of alginate is investigated using dead end constant pressure experiments. Crossflow filtration is also used to investigate the critical flux and the fouling mechanisms in sub-critical flux filtration. Experimental results are compared with EPS fouling of an MBR system. In addition, fouling mechanisms of protein alginate mixtures and alginate particulate mixtures are also investigated in order to better understand EPS fouling in an MBR system.

Experimental crossflow setup.

A/Prof Vicki Chen

---

Selected Publications:

• Ye, Y. and Chen, V., "Reversibility of cake layers formed during the microfiltration of yeast and bovine serum albumin mixtures", presented at the 5th IMSTEC (International Membrane Science and Technology Conference), 10-14 November 2003, Sydney, Australia

---