Mechanisms and mass transfer kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorbed by mussel shell incorporated adsorptive membrane

Abstract

The presence of Cr(VI) results in pollution that threatens human health and aquatic life. Therefore, there is an urgent need for Cr(VI) to be removed from contaminated water. The mussel shell incorporated polyethersulfone (MSPES) membranes designed to form the flat sheet adsorptive membrane (FSAM) crossflow treatment systems was used to remove Cr(VI) from synthetic solution. The physicochemical properties of the MSPES membrane were verified using an atomic force microscope, scanning electron microscope, and water contact angle goniometer. The performance of MSPES2.0 to remove Cr(VI) ions ranged from 15.00 to 16.05 % was higher than that of MSPES2.2 ranged from 10.00 to 10.75 %, which observed for 1.5 h of the experiment. The MSPES2.0 adsorption capacity of 3.2 mg g−1 was higher than the MSPES2.2 adsorption capacity of 1.45 mg g−1. The applicability of Generalized Fulazzaky equations to simulate the experimental data was validated to predict the mechanisms and kinetics of Cr(VI) mass transfer by the MSPES membrane and to determine the resistance of mass transfer for adsorption of Cr(VI) depended on porous diffusion (PD) rate. The Cr(VI) adsorption controlled by PD was verified to provide an insight of how the mass transfer process contributed to advanced FSAM crossflow treatment system.