Removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol using ionic liquid [BMIM]+[PF6]- encapsulated PVDF membrane

Abstract

2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) is one of the toxic chlorophenol compounds found in aquatic environments. Chlorophenols are priority pollutants, due to their high toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. In this study, experiments were carried out for the removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenol (Cl2C6H3OH) from aqueous solution using commercial grade PVDF membrane immobilised with 1-Butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM]+[PF6]- ionic liquid. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) used to identify and to confirm the surface morphology, functional groups and operational stability of Ionic Liquid [BMIM]+[PF6]- encapsulated PVDF membrane. The effect of various factors such as feed phase pH, initial 2,4-DCP concentration, operation time and stirring speed along with different stripping agents such as NaOH, KOH and NH4OH on the removal of chlorophenols has been investigated. The maximum permeation rate of 85.52% was achieved over an experimental run of 24 at pH 4 with a strip flux of 8.18323 × 10−09 mol m−2s−1 in 0.1 M NaOH strip phase.