Membrane technology for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing cationic surfactants

Abstract

The composition of industrial wastewater, its purification and concentration processes using ceramic membrane modules were investigated. Industrial wastewater produced as a result of washing the production line at a plant manufacturing cationic surfactants (in the esterquats group) was subjected to membrane filtration in a semi-pilot plant, run in concentration mode. Analysis of the raw wastewater showed very high organic matter content, expressed as COD, in the range of 17,700 to 24,300 mg L−1 and the concentration of cationic surfactants amounted to 2890–3390 mg L−1 mg/L. Ceramic membrane modules with a pore size of 0.14 μm exhibited high effectiveness in surfactant wastewater treatment. COD, TOC and turbidity were reduced by 93%, 95%, and 99%, respectively. When the process was run in concentration mode almost 50% of the permeate was recovered.

Keywords

• Esterquat
• Surfactant wastewater
• Industrial wastewater
• Fabric softener