Removal of Eriochrome Blue Black R from wastewater using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) represents a potentially attractive tool for the removal of different contaminants from wastewater. In this study, MEUF was carried out to investigate the retention of Eriochrome Blue Black R (EBBR), an anionic dye, from aqueous stream. N-Alkyltrimethylammonium bromide i.e. dodecyltrimethylammoniunn bromide (C(12)TAB), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(14)TAB), cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (C(16)TAB) and octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(18)TAB) were taken as cationic surfactants, and NaCl, Na2SO4, Na2HPO4 as electrolytes. A hydrophilic membrane made of cellulose (molecular weight cut-off 10000 Da) was used in a cross-flow ultrafiltration unit. The removal of EBBR was studied as a function of dye and surfactant concentrations, ionic strength, transmembrane pressure and pH. The MEUF experiments showed that the highest dye rejection was about 99% for the used range of dye and surfactant concentrations. This retention depended slightly on dye and surfactant concentrations, ionic strength, pH and transmembrane pressure. However, permeate flux changed significantly with those parameters due mainly to concentration polarisation and osmotic pressure. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.