Concentration Polarization Effects in the Use of Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration to Remove Dissolved Organic Pollutants from Wastewater

Abstract Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) is used to remove 4-tert-butylphenol (TBP) from aqueous solution, a separation for which traditional ultrafiltration is ineffactive. A micelle—forming surfactant is added to the solution. The micelles solubilize a high fraction of the TBP. The stream is then forced through an ultrafilter. Overall rejection of TBP was greater than 99%. under all conditions studied and did not decrease with increasing pressure drop. Micelles were completely rejected by membranes with pore size 10 000 Dalton MWCO and below. Concentration polarization affects MEUF fluxes under conditions of interest. Bel polarization theory does not completely explain MEUF flux behavior. Selection of optimum operating parameters in MEUF application are discussed.