A novel binding polymer unmodified starch in application of polymer enhanced ultrafiltration for zinc and lead ions removal

Abstract

Performance of a polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) process has been investigated on removal of Zn(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions using a polymer-enhanced ultrafiltration process. The ultrafiltration studies were carried out in membranes technology apparatus which applied polysulfone hollow fiber membranes with molecular weight cut off (MWCO) 10kDa in the systems. The increased of metal ions size by binding with two water soluble polymers namely unmodified starch and polyethyleneimine (PEI); macromolecules may formed that can resist metal ions pass through membrane hence, retention of metal ions and permeate flux could be enhanced. In these investigations, transmembranes pressure (TMP), pH, concentration of metals and polymers on the retention and permeate flux were studied. A better performance result was found with starch compared to PEI. The maximum retention approached 90% of Zn(II) solution removal instead Pb(II) solutions was obtained 60% of removal at pH 7 in presence of 0.05 (w/v)% unmodified starch and 0.01 (v/v)% of PEI as complexing agent, with a fixed pressure of 1.5 bar and flowrate of 115 ml/min. The permeate flux of Zn(II) and Pb(II) solutions was found better that results 99% and 80% at low pH, respectively. Permeate flux remained almost constant around 50% of pure water flux.