CFD-guided patterning of tubular ceramic membrane surface by stereolithography: Optimizing morphology at the mesoscale for improved hydrodynamic control of membrane fouling

A preliminary study was carried out on the morphological design of tubular single-channel alumina membranes prepared by stereolithography, an additive manufacturing process. The geometry of the ring-patterned inner surface of membranes was optimized using computational fluid dynamics calculations and validated in microfiltration tests with aqueous suspensions of P. aeruginosa. Patterning of the inner surface of tubular membranes helped reduce cake formation at a higher value of the average crossflow velocity. The results highlight benefits of stereolithography-based approach to the morphological design of ceramic membranes.