Crossflow surfactant-based ultrafiltration of heavy metals from waste streams
- Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
Five heavy metals (cadmium, lead, copper, nickel, and zinc) in a simulated wastewater, alone and together, were substantially removed by surfactant-based ultrafiltration using natural surfactants such as a derivative of cholesterol (deoxycholic acid) and lecithins. Selective and total removal of metal ions has been achieved by applying an appropriate level of surfactant-to-metal ratio (S/M). The underlying principle is to increase the size of the target metal ions by fixing them to larger surfactant macromolecules so they can be retained by a compatible membrane. Deoxycholic acid exhibited more efficiency in metal removal than did lecithin and sodium dodecyl sulfate. This research showed that transmembrane pressure had a minimal effect on metal removal whereas S/M had a substantial influence. The optimal S/M for considerable metal removal (99.9 + rejection ratio) is around 2.5 and 5 for deoxycholic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate, respectively. The binding of metals to surfactant in the absence of membrane interferences was also determined by a centrifuge method.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 99108
- Journal Information:
- Separation Science and Technology, Vol. 29, Issue 15; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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