JOURNAL of the Tunisian Chemical Society

In order to prevent problems caused by heavy metals in wastewaters poly(acrylic acid) enhanced ultrafiltration was applied and the efficiency of this process was studied. The application of polyelectrolyte enhanced ultrafiltration using the poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), permitted to reach retention rate higher than 93% for copper. Several parameters have been optimized such as: transmembrane pressure, PAA concentration and pH to improve the retention of the metal ions. The application of polyelectrolyte enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) on wastewater treatment from Tunisian industrial in Grombalia (industry of Tunisian cable) proved the efficiency of the retention of various physico-chemical parameters in water treatment. The ultrafiltration effluent treatment (TRB1) was investigated using two different membranes: polyethersulfone membrane with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO 10 kD) and regenerated cellulose (MWCO 10 kD). Two anionic polyelectrolytes were used: poly(ammonium acrylate) (PANH₄⁺ 15 000 Da) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA 100 000 Da). The physico-chemical parameters of ultrafiltrated effluent in absence of polyelectrolyte don’t obey to the Tunisian norm NT 106-02. This wastewater effluent presents higher rates of chloride as well as cadmium ions beyond norm limits. The permeate quality after PEUF application showed a reduction in turbidity, COD, major cations, heavy metals. This study can be used as a pretreatment for wastewaters containing heavy metals.

D. Jellouli Ennigrou, S. Ben Mlouka, M. Dhahbi

Ultrafiltration, Polyelectrolyte, Industrial wastewater, Copper, Heavy metals retention

Pages 83-92