Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Chemical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Beitle, Robert Jr.
Abstract
While membrane filtration has improved greatly and has been incorporated into many modern practices, there isn’t much data on material exchange in and out of the lumen and how that effects the overall efficiency of the process. This data may help to accurately measure the reliability and efficiency of a filtration membrane system, which can lead to improvements in filtration sustainability, process lifespan, and product quality.
This project aims to model the material balance within a perfusion bioreactor ultrafiltration system in MATLAB, with a focus on bioreactors and cell buildup and release from the lumen. The results of this study will be used as a comparison for real-world trials using freshlight filtration cartridges. In its current state, the MATLAB model finds values for cell concentration throughout the system and overall material buildup within the filtration cartridge given a permeate and tank draw from the system. Starting values for volume, volumetric draw, concentration, and exchange rates were found with preliminary data and can be adjusted based off the compared real-world system. Some different values for each were tested to see how this variance affects how the system reacts.
Based off the results of similar research, the concentration distribution in the system is expected to be roughly a 50:50 split of cells in the reactor and filter once reaching steady state. Since the volume changes with the flow rate out of the system, this volume change should be linearly decreasing.
Keywords
ultrafiltration; membrain; perfusion; bioreactor; MATLAB; Buildup
Citation
Derosier, H. B. (2025). Modeling Cell Buildup and Release in an Ultrafiltration Cartridge. Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cheguht/213
reference MATLAB model for starting modeling
exchangeModel1_permeateUnfinished.m (2 kB)
First model version, no permeat draw
exchangeModel2_permeateUnfinishedAndExchange.m (4 kB)
Second model version, adding incomplete permeat
exchangeModel3_uncertaintySimBulk.m (5 kB)
Third model version, cell exchange into lumen
exchangeModel4_MonteCarlo.m (6 kB)
Fourth model version, Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis
Included in
Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons, Membrane Science Commons, Transport Phenomena Commons
