Evaluation of Commercial Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membranes for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Surface Water in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This study evaluates the performance of commercial reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes for removal metal ions from synthetic water surface carried north-west Lake Tanganyika in city Uvira, east Democratic Republic Congo. Metal ion analyses were performed by standardized ICP-MS ICP-OES methods. The RO membrane showed higher rejection high-concentration solutions (synthetic samples) prepared laboratory as well low-concentration samples real raw collected near Tanganyika. Rejection levels than 98% Cr3+, Pb2+, Cd2+, As3+, Ni2+, Sb+3 solutions, 99.2, 98.8, 98.6, 98.4, 98.8%, respectively, samples. concentrations metals permeate varied depending on feed concentration 0.15 to 1.02 mg/L, 0.33 22 0.11 mg/L RO, NF90, NF270 membranes, respectively. Regarding NF Cr, Ni, Cd was interesting: 98.2, 97.8, 92.3%, However, it lower Pb, As, Sb ions: 76.9, 52.5 64.1%, flux 329 375 L/m2.h, much which had a 98 132 L/m2.h. studied are thus feasible solution remove sources at low since they meet standards World Health Organization specific values assigned chemicals industrial human habitation areas where these present drinking water.