Separation of Sodium Salts of Fatty Acids in Aqueous Solutions by Reverse Osmosis Membranes

Abstract

The removal of some sodium salts of fatty acids in aqueous solutions was studied by reverse osmosis process (batch system) using cellulose acetate membranes.The results were as follows : When the concentration of sodium salts of fatty acids is 100 mg/l, the rejection showed the low values when the carbon number of alkyl groups on the sodium salts of fatty acids was C2 to C8, and when the carbon number of alkyl groups increases to C10C18 the rejection tends to be higher. The difference in water permeability was little between C2 to C18 sodium salts of fatty acids.The rejection increased as the surface tension of sodium salts of fatty acids became lower.