Model assessment of a nanofiltration membrane for the removal metal ions from simulated wastewater

Abstract

Abstract This paper accords the likelihood of applying Donnan and Steric Partitioning Pore Model (DSPM) together with extended Nernst-Planck model to elucidate the capacity of charge and Donnan exclusion mechanisms in removing ions from simulated wastewater in Nano-Pro-3012 membrane filtration process. The extended Nernst-Planck model reports the transportation of cations across Nano-Pro-3012 with respect to electrical potential gradient, movement of solutes and pressure difference through the membrane. The working principle of these two equations is dependent on the adsorption of the charged surface, diffusion and convective transport. This principle was established with a software called Comsol multi-physic 4.3b to explain the capacity of charge and Donnan exclusion mechanism of Nano-Pro-3012. The extended Nernst-Planck model and the Darcy law model were applied to evaluate the physical interrelationship amidst NanoPro-3012 and ionic solutions with the aim of having a good understanding of the transport and rejection working operation of the ions. The principle of these equations was first used to envisage the capability of Nano-Pro-3012. The data obtained were validated with the laboratory data. There was an establishment that movement of solutes across the membrane bring about diffusion transport. The total flux in solution increases due to the working operation of the diffusion which in turns reduces the electrical potential, as a result, reduces the flux in the membrane. Ions smaller than pore sizes are rejected and the theoretical data is in conformity with the experimental data.