Abstract:To separate cadmium ions from aqueous solution efficiently, micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) of hollow ultrafiltration membrane was used, with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as surfactants. The important parameters affecting the rejection of cadmium, the permeate flux and the secondary resistance were investigated, including surfactant species, surfactant concentration, operating time, trans-membrane pressure, the addition of electrolyte and solution pH. The results show that the rejection rate of cadmium reaches 97.8%. Trans-membrane pressure and the addition of electrolyte (NaCl) are less influential while surfactant species, surfactant concentration and pH value are important for micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration. The optimum concentration of surfactant is the critical micelle concentration, and SDBS is better than SDS. Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration with SDBS can separate cadmium ions from aqueous solution efficiently.

Key words: micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration; cadmium ions; surfactants; micelles