Removal of Ni(II) ions from wastewater by micellar enhanced ultrafiltration using mixed surfactants

Ni(II) ions were removed from aqueous waste using micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) with a mixture of surfactants. The surfactant mixture was the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 (TW80) mixed with the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in different molar ratios ranging from 0.1–1.5. The operational variables of the MEUF process such as pH, applied pressure, surfactant to metal ion ratio and nonionic to ionic surfactant molar ratio (α) were evaluated. Rejection of Ni and TW80 was 99% and 98% respectively whereas that for SDS was 65%. The flux and all resistances (fouling resistance, resistance due to concentration polarization) were measured and calculated for entire range of α respectively. A calculated flux was found to be declined with time, which was mainly attributed to concentration polarization rather than resistance from membrane fouling.