Application of micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) for arsenic (v) removal from aqueous solutions and process optimization

In this study, the removal of arsenic was evaluated using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process. Response surface methodology and Box-Behnken matrix methods were also applied to design the experiments and determine the optimum conditions. Therefore, the main operational parameters including pH (4-10), initial concentration of arsenic (20-80 mu g/L), and concentration of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (1-3mM) were investigated. The results of analysis of variance revealed a good agreement between experimental data and the built model with the determination coefficient (R-2) of 0.99. Accordingly, the removal efficiency obtained was about 94.8% at the optimal condition (pH=6.73, the initial concentration of arsenic=29.44 mu g/L, and CTAB concentration of 2.83mM).