Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2015
Abstract
In this study, aqueous solutions containing mixtures of heavy metals namely Zn (II), Pb (II), Cr (III), and Cr (VI) were treated by polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) using unmodified starch as binding biopolymer. The performance of starch in removing these heavy metals was compared with that of polyethylene glycol (PEG) a commonly used polymer in PEUF processes. Rejection coefficients and flux were studied under different values of pH solution and metal ion concentrations maintaining the transmembrane pressure constant at 1.5 bar. At pH 7, and starch concentration of 0.05, the rejection was the highest at around 90. As metal ion concentration increased from 10 to 50 mg/L, the rejection of metal ions decreased. It was found that starch gave higher rejection for Zn (II) and Cr (III) at 0.05 g/L of polymer concentration, whereas 1 g/L of PEG concentration gave higher rejection for Cr (VI) at 10 mg/L. The influence of metal ion concentration on Pb (II) rejection is not significant for the two selected polymers. The rejection of these metal ions by starch in this study is found to be influenced by granule structure that generally behaved in a non-ionic manner. (c) 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 359-367, 2015
Keywords
Polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration, multivalent metal ions removal, complexing agents, unmodified starch, polyethylene glycol, aqueous effluents, polyacrylic-acid, separation, membrane, recovery, cadmium, lead
Divisions
fac_eng
Funders
The authors acknowledge the financial support from University of Malaya, Malaysia through the Postgraduate Research Fund (PPP Grant) with grant PS 104-2010B and PV 092-2011B.
Publication Title
Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Volume
34
Issue
2
Publisher
Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Additional Information
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