Effect of pH on the rejection of inorganic salts and organic compound using nanofiltration membrane

Nanofiltration (NF) has recently received increased attention as a possible tertiary treatment process providing high rejection of solutes and high water flux rate. In this research, solute separation experiments using NF membranes were made with inorganic salts including heavy metal and organic compounds in different pH levels. The rejection of inorganics from feed solution was found to be dependent on the electric charge of membrane as well as the ionic radius and valence of ion. The divalent cation appeared to reduce the potential of negatively charged membrane to lower the rejection of ion. The results of organic compounds showed that the rejection could be estimated from the pKa value and molecular weight of organics, and the pH of the feed solution.