Sr. Jadhav et al., Flux and retention analysis during micellar enhanced ultrafiltration for the removal of phenol and aniline, SEP PURIF T, 24(3), 2001, pp. 541-557
Studies were done for the removal of organic solutes under aqueous medium t
hrough micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF). The organic solutes select
ed for experiments consisted of an ionic compound (phenol) and a non-ionic
compound (aniline), whereas cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), a counter-ioni
c surfactant was used for the formation of micelles under aqueous medium. U
F was carried out under both stirred and unstirred conditions using batch c
ells. The effect of important operating parameters (applied pressure, solut
es and surfactant. bulk concentrations) on the extent of separation of the
organic solutes were observed and studied. Solubilization of these solutes
in CPC micelles were also experimentally ascertained. A mathematical model
developed in this study was used to describe the separation of organic solu
tes by MEUF and predict permeate solute concentrations under varying operat
ing conditions. The effect of pressure and feed CPC concentration on the be
haviour of permeate flux was explained as a consequence of the formation of
concentration polarized layer of CPC, upstream of the membrane surface. Th
e removal of organic solutes (phenol and aniline) were observed to increase
with increase in feed CPC concentration; however, upto about 150 mM, beyon
d which it was more or less constant. Solubilization equilibrium constant o
f phenol in CPC micelles was estimated to be around four times that of anil
ine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.