Effect of the operating parameters on the separation of metal chelates using low pressure reverse osmosis membrane (LPROM)

摘要

This paper describes an investigation on the effect of operating parameters on the separation of metal chelates using LPROM. The objective of this study was to optimise the process of metal chelates removal by a LPROM using statistical factorial design. Factorial experiment by statistical design was applied, in which a central composite factorial design (half replicate) was used, then followed up by a star design to give a central composite factorial design. A bench-scale spiral wound configuration of sulphonated polysulphone LPROM was used at various operating conditions, i.e. operating conditions, solute concentrations, EDTA, pH and temperature. It has been shown experimentally that the effect of pressure is non-linear with respect to percentage of metal removal at different concentrations of metal ions in the feed solution. Observation of the response surface implies that the operating pressure was not the significant parameter in determining the percentage of zinc removal in the LPROM. The operating pressure, temperature and concentration of EDTA in the feed solution were the most significant parameters for permeate flux variation. It can also be concluded that for a given set of feed and experimental conditions, permeate flux increased linearly with operating pressure and temperature. The other parameters, i.e. the concentration of zinc in the feed solution and pH, were not statistically significant. [References: 6]