Green complexation for heavy metals removal from wastewater by Keggin-polyoxometalates enhanced ultrafiltration

Water Sci Technol. 2022 Sep;86(6):1510-1526. doi: 10.2166/wst.2022.272.

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in wastewater has become a serious issue and a global concern for the environment and public health with rapid progress of modern textile industry. To minimize the health risks of heavy metals their complexation to a chelating agent constitute a promising process using membrane separation. We highlight for the first time the use of Keggin type-polyoxometalates (PW12) as complexing agent to eliminate heavy metals from synthetic textile wastewater. Indeed, filtration experiments were performed through the ultrafiltration organic regenerated cellulose membrane (3KDa). Effects of pressure (1-2.5 bar), PW12 concentration (10-50 mg·L-1), salt concentration (10-4-2 M) and pH value (2-12) on cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) removal were regularly explored. Experimental data showed that the addition of PW12 improves metal removal efficiency (up to 90%). The addition of NaCl salt significantly decreases the metals retention to 42%. The retention drop is probably due to the competition between Na+ and metals on complexation same negative sites of the PW12 and to the electric double-layer compressing. 24 full factorial design has been used to evaluate the most influencing parameters. The results obtained revealed that the maximum metal retention was 99% for both Cd and Cu.

MeSH terms

  • Anions
  • Cadmium
  • Chelating Agents
  • Copper
  • Metals, Heavy*
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Ultrafiltration* / methods
  • Wastewater

Substances

  • Anions
  • Chelating Agents
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Polyelectrolytes
  • Waste Water
  • polyoxometalate
  • Cadmium
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Copper