Experimental and Modelling of Aqueous Radioactive Waste Treatment by Ultrafiltration

Ultrafiltration of untreated and pretreated aqueous radioactive wastes was conducted using a spiral-wound polysulphonamide membrane. The influence of process factors on its performances was experimental studied and predicted. Permeate volumetric flux and permeate total suspended solids (TSS) were measured at different values of feed flow rate (7 and 10 m(3)/h), operating pressure (0.1-0.4 MPa), and feed TSS (15 and 60 mg/L). Permeate flux (42-200 L/(m(2).h)) increased with feed flow rate and operating pressure as well as it decreased with an increase in feed TSS, whereas permeate TSS (0.1-33.2 mg/L) exhibited an opposite trend. A 2(3) factorial plan was used to establish correlations between dependent and independent variables of ultrafiltration process.