Abstract: Ultrafiltration is a kind of advanced technology used for processing vegetable protein. But its application is badly limited by the membrane fouling problem. This paper reported the UF behavior of rapeseed protein solution in hollow-fibre UF system, and the effect of online backflushing by the water permeating on fouling of UF membrane for processing the rapeseed protein solution. The optimum parameters of backflushing technology used for online fouling controlling were obtained. The experiment showed that the UF rate declined with time extension, and that an effective approach to control the fouling degree was to periodically backflush the UF membrane at work for 20 seconds at intervals of 15min by permeating water at 0.2MPa pressure difference, which could renew more than 90 percent water permeating capability.

Key words: rapeseed protein, ultrafiltration(UF), membrane fouling, interval backflushing