Polymer-Enhanced Crossflow Filtration for Removal of Fe(III), Cu(II), and Cd(II) Ions from Dilute Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

The removal of Fe(III), Cu(II), and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solutions was studied by polymer-enhanced crossflow filtration technique. Alginic acid polymer was used as complexing agents to enhance the retention. Alginic acid/cellulose composite membranes were used in the filtration. In the filtration of metal ion solutions the effects of alginic acid content of the membranes and pH on the percent retention and the permeate flux were examined. The maximum percent retention was found as 98% for 1 × 10^?4 M Fe(III) solution at the flow velocity of 100 mL/min, pH of 3.0, pressure of 60 kPa in the presence of alginic acid as complexing agent by using 0.25 (w/v)% alginic acid/cellulose composite membranes. For 1 × 10^?4 M Cu(II) and Cd(II) solutions the maximum percent retentions were found as 71% and 80% respectively using 0.50 (w/v)% Alginic acid/cellulose composite membranes when the filtration was carried out in the presence of alginic acid at pressure of 10 kPa, flow velocity of 100 mL/min and pH of 7.0.