Affiliation:
1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Gujarat, Surat India
2. Department of Chemical Engineering, R.N.G. Patel Institute of Technology, Gujarat, Bardoli India
Abstract
Emulsion instability is the main concern of the emulsion liquid membrane process for industrial use. The present investigation focuses on the removal of Diclofenac (DCF) from an aqueous solution by multiwall carbon nanotubes, Fe2O3, and SiO2 nanoparticles stabilized emulsion nanofluid membrane (ENM). The current study also emphasizes the recycling of nanoparticles and assesses the stability and performance of the ENM system. The optimization of parameters like treat ratio, emulsification time, and agitation speed was carried out by the application of Box−Behnken design and interaction plots were used for understanding the interdependence between the parameters and their combined effect on the % extraction of DCF. The optimum values for maximum removal of DCF were observed in the range: agitation speed: 400–500 rpm, emulsification time: 2.5–5 min, and treat ratio: 10–14. The ENMs were characterized by ATR-FTIR, DLS, photomicrographs, and Turbiscan. Emulsion recycling was also carried out for the reutilization of nanoparticles and the membrane phase. Turbiscan analysis of recycled ENMs was performed to examine the stability of ENMs after each cycle.
Publisher
The Russian Academy of Sciences