Evaluation of Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration (MEUF) Membrane for Dye Removal of Synthetic Remazol Dye Wastewater

Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration Membrane (MEUF) is one of promising technology to separate low molecular weight substances such as dyes. The MEUF process involves a combination of ultrafiltration and surfactant at a concentration higher than surfactant’s Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC). This research was focused on the application of MEUF for synthetic Remazol dye wastewater containing Remazol Yellow/Black B/ Turquoise Blue at different dye concentration. In the MEUF system, a PolyEther Sulphone Ultrafiltration membrane and Cetyl Pyridinum Chloride (CPC) surfactant at concentration of 2 times of its Critical Micelle Concentration were used. Evaluation of MEUF performance was determined based on flux profile and rejection. It was confirmed that dye concentration did not change the flux profile significantly. Flux reduction was effected by the addition of surfactant in the MEUF system. Flux decline in the MEUF was due to the formation of surfactant micelle aggregates with dye generating a deposited layer on the membrane surface. As the CPC is an ionic surfactant, the formation of the micelle is attributed to a balance between the attraction of hydrocarbon chain (hydrophobic tail) and ionic repulsion. Scanning Electron Microscopy images verified that there was an additional layer on the membrane surface after MEUF was performed, indicating a deposited layer. The permeate rejections were more than 70% and 96% for rejection of Chemical Oxygen Demand and Remazol dye, respectively. The rejection of dye ion and Chemical Oxygen Demand were attributed due to anionic dye solubilization in the surfactant micelles. The solubilization was formed by adsorbtion through electrostatic attraction.