Removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution using complexation-ultrafiltration

Ligand-modified micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (LM-MEUF) is a membrane technique based on a separation process which can be used for removal of target metals from an aqueous solution. This method involves adding both a metal complexing ligand and surfactant molecule to the aqueous solution under conditions where most of the molecules are present as micelles. This ligand can be attached to the surface of micelles by solubilization and forms the ligand complexes with the metal ion. The aqueous solution is then treated through a membrane which has to be smaller pore sizes than those of the complexes. Hence, permeate water is then purified from the heavy metals. In this study, divalent lead is the target ion in a solution. Filtration experiments were performed with ultrafiltration membrane system, equipped with a regenerated cellulose membrane with a 5000 Daltons cutoff. The pressure was fixed at 4.0 bar with a permeate flow rate of 500 mL min(-1). Complexes of Pb2+ ions with three ligands were investigated in micellar medium of different surfactants at different pH values to determine the ligands which could provide separation. Different parameters affecting the percentage rejection of the Pb2+, such as pH and surfactant concentration were also discussed. Results have shown that the maximum percentage of the Pb2+ ions rejection were obtained using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant and dithizone (DZ) as the lead-specific ligand. A waste stream sample from a battery plant was subjected to LM-MEUF process in the optimum conditions determined in this study and it was shown that Pb2+ ions in a waste stream could be removed by LM-MEUF effectively