Application of ultrafiltration-complexation process for metal removal frompulp and paper industry wastewater

In recent years, the pulp and paper industries have been trying different t echnologies to reduce fresh water consumption in paper mills. This has led to a fast development of new wastewater treatment technologies for industri al reuse. Lately, water-soluble polymeric ligands have shown to be powerful substances to remove trace metals from industrial wastewater through ultra filtration (UF). In the present study, polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyviny lalcohol (PVA) were used as water-soluble polymeric macroligands. The UF ex periments were carried out in stirred dead-end cells. The membrane used was formed from polyvinilidene fluoride (PVDF). The performance of water-solub le polymeric ligands was evaluated by determining metal removal and chemica l oxygen demand (COD). In general, the complexation-ultrafiltration process was efficient for metal removal from wastewater, leading to a better efflu ent quality when compared to ultrafiltration without any ligands addition. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.