Rejection quantification of EDCs mass transfer
through the NF sieving mechanism mostly
uses MWCO, desalting degree, porosity and surface
characteristics and morphology via atomic
force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
[79]. The summary of the quantification
method via rejection due to sieving mechanism is
given in Table 4. Several researchers [73,75]
found that the MWCO of NF membrane cannot
be precisely used to predict and quantify for EDC
rejection due to the variation in MWCO determination.
This is because the MWCO variation
depends on filtration protocols, solute characteristics
and concentration and as well as operating
conditions. (i.e dead end, cross flow filtration)
[79]. Verliefde et al. [78] stated that MWCO of
membrane gives an underestimation of the
MWCO for hydrophobic compounds and an overestimation
MWCO for hydrophilic molecules.