Effect of corona discharge treatment on the polyethersulfone microfiltration membrane surfaces to reduce fouling phenomenon during tomato juice clarification

Tomato juice with high molecular weight components (high foulants) creates a turbid appearance as well as high fouling and a substantial flux decline in membrane applications. For this purpose, the surface modification of polyethersulfone (PES) microfiltration (MF) membranes was investigated by corona discharge to improve fouling propensities for clarifying tomato juice. The results revealed that corona discharge changed the surface hydrophilicity, morphology, and antifouling performance of the membranes. However, it has not made any substantial changes to mechanical properties. The hydrophilicity of the modified membranes with the reduction of contact angle (CA) from 53° to 10°, increased. Accordingly, the tomato juice flux of the modified membranes increased from 11 to 26 kg m−2 h−1 (∼2.4 times). Moreover, the reduction of the cake resistance as the main fouling mechanism (1.81 × 1012 m−1) was 1.4 times, and the enhancement of the flux recovery ratio (27%) was 2 times higher than of the neat PES membrane.