Assessment of the micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process with a tight UF membrane for the removal of aniline from water

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) is a promising method to remove low molecular weight (LMW) organic contaminants from water. In this work, a series of experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of an MEUF process for the removal of aniline (as LMW organic contamination) using a 1 kDa molecular weight cut-off polyethersulfone membrane and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an anionic surfactant. Furthermore, the effect of various parameters such as aniline and surfactant concentration, operating pressure, temperature, agitation velocity, the presence of a nonionic surfactant (Brij 35), and the pH of feed on the rejection of aniline and SDS, and relative permeation flux have been examined. In the presence of a nonionic surfactant, the maximum rejection of aniline (approximately 80%) was obtained. The results of this study also revealed that although the complete retention of aniline was not achievable, the MEUF process could, however, be utilized to facilitate aniline removal from aqueous phase.