Performance Chitosan Membranes to Filter Humic Acid (HA) Waste from Aquatic Environment

Abstract

Various pollutants can directly and indirectly threaten the health and safety of our aquatic environment. To overcome this, various methods needed for more efficient wastewater treatment. Wastewater treatment using natural polymer matrix membranes can provide an excellent alternative that is environmentally friendly. For this purpose, a study on filtering humic acid (HA) waste frompolluted water using chitosan membranes has been carried out. The membranes used are chitosan membranes 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%. The filtration was carried out by using the dead-end filtration method, and the analysis of humic acid was done by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The ability of the membrane to screen humic acid waste is indicated by pure water flux (PWF), waste (product) flux (PF), and rejection coefficient (R). The results obtained that the chitosan membrane 2% showed the highest filtration ability 99.87% with pure water flux and product flux of 2938.14 L/m2h and 1678.93 L/m2h, respectively. While the chitosan membranes 3% and 4% gave rejection coefficient of 83.76% and 79.38%, respectively. The chitosan membrane 1%, on the pressure of 100 kPa did not produce flow. So, chitosan membrane 2% can be used as a method to reduce humic acid waste from the aquatic environment, which is environmentally friendly method. So, chitosan membrane 2% can be used as a method to reduce humic acid waste from the aquatic environment, which is environmentally friendly method.