Abstract
Currently, there is great concern about global water pollution. Wastewater generally contains substances called emerging pollutants, and if the removal of these pollutants is not given sufficient attention, the pollutants can enter into the water cycle and reach the water supply for domestic use, causing adverse effects on the well-being of people. In order to avoid this menace, a multitude of techniques to reduce the high concentration levels of these substances dissolved in water are being researched and developed. One of the most-used techniques for this goal is the physical-chemical separation of contaminants in water through membrane technology. In this study, different membranes were tested with the objective of investigating the removal of three emerging pollutants: caffeine, metformin, and methyl-paraben. Initially, a nanofiltration (NF) membrane was selected, and the influence of pressure was evaluated in the rejection coefficients and permeate fluxes. Next, a screening of three new membranes to remove methyl paraben was completed. The influence of the operating variables, working pressure, and methyl paraben-feed concentration was checked. Finally, the solution-diffusion model was applied to predict the behavior of the different membranes in the removal of methyl paraben. A good correlation between experimental and calculated values of permeate flux and methyl paraben concentration was obtained.
Highlights
Three quarters of the total industrial discharge, which contains highly-polluting substances, is released into the sea without any prior treatment
An emerging pollutant or micro-pollutant is a substance whose presence in water poses a danger to human health and the environment, since it accumulates in waterways, seas, and aquifers, causing the loss of aquatic biosystems [2]
The most common emerging pollutants are usually classified into the following groups: drugs, perfluorinated compounds, hormones, drugs of abuse, and personal care and hygiene products [3]
Summary
Three quarters of the total industrial discharge, which contains highly-polluting substances, is released into the sea without any prior treatment. Among these substances, there are compounds that are difficult to degrade due to their complex structure, which makes them stable and, poorly biodegradable. There are compounds that are difficult to degrade due to their complex structure, which makes them stable and, poorly biodegradable These compounds are called emerging pollutants [1]. Techniques continue to be developed to remove these compounds in wastewater treatment plants, and minimize their concentration in the water that is discharged into the aquatic environment. Membrane removal technology is well known for its efficiency, low cost, and easy operation
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