Using Pressure-Driven Membrane Processes to Remove Emerging Pollutants from Aqueous Solutions

Asunción María Hidalgo, Gerardo León, María Dolores Murcia, María Gómez, Elisa Gómez and José Luis Gómez
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Asunción María Hidalgo: Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Gerardo León: Chemical Engineering and Environmental Department, University of Cartagena, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
María Dolores Murcia: Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
María Gómez: Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Elisa Gómez: Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
José Luis Gómez: Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Currently, there is great concern about global water pollution. Wastewater generally contains substances called emerging pollutants, and if the removal of these pollutants is not given sufficient attention, the pollutants can enter into the water cycle and reach the water supply for domestic use, causing adverse effects on the well-being of people. In order to avoid this menace, a multitude of techniques to reduce the high concentration levels of these substances dissolved in water are being researched and developed. One of the most-used techniques for this goal is the physical-chemical separation of contaminants in water through membrane technology. In this study, different membranes were tested with the objective of investigating the removal of three emerging pollutants: caffeine, metformin, and methyl-paraben. Initially, a nanofiltration (NF) membrane was selected, and the influence of pressure was evaluated in the rejection coefficients and permeate fluxes. Next, a screening of three new membranes to remove methyl paraben was completed. The influence of the operating variables, working pressure, and methyl paraben-feed concentration was checked. Finally, the solution-diffusion model was applied to predict the behavior of the different membranes in the removal of methyl paraben. A good correlation between experimental and calculated values of permeate flux and methyl paraben concentration was obtained.

Keywords: emerging pollutants; nanofiltration; reverse osmosis; solution-diffusion model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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