Removal of Zinc from an Aqueous Solution Using Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration (MEUF) with Surfactants

In the present study, the optimum conditions have been investigated for the separation of Zn2+ ions from aqueous media by micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF). For this purpose, optimum conditions for the concentration of surface active agent in the feed solution (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), triton-X-100 (TX100)), filtering pressure, stirring rate and for the membrane porosity have been determined. It is shown that the filtering pressure has a significant effect on the permeate flux but a relatively insignificant impact on rejection of Zn2+. Permeate flux increased linearly with increasing pressure, ranging from 0.32 mLmin-1m-2 at 3 bar to 0.72 mLmin-1m-2 at 4 bar. The results showed that by adding SDS anionic surfactant, the permeate flux and the removal efficiency of zinc increased. Best results in terms of zinc rejection coefficient is 97.5 % at 5.0 x 10-4 M zinc concentration, 1.0 x 10-2 M SDS concentration (~x 8 cmc), stirring rate 500 rpm and transmembrane pressure 4 bar.