High performance ultra- and nanofiltration removal of micropollutants by cyclodextrin complexation

Nanofiltration is a promising solution for the removal of emerging and persistent micropollutants, but it limited by operating expenses due to high membrane areas operational pressures, dictated membrane’s low molecular weight cut-offs (MWCO), formation large amounts concentrate be treated, e.g. advanced oxidation. In this paper, simple proposed enhance retention micropollutants adding cyclodextrins (CDs) complexation. Complexation between hydroxypropyl β-CD resulted in higher rejections ibuprofen (99.3%), bisphenol A (94.5%) phenol (76.4%) compared filtrations without addition CDs (82.4%, 14% 4%, respectively) using 1 kDa MWCO membrane. The CD complexation allowed filtration with ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, where nanofiltration (NF) membranes would normally best available retain micropollutants. By polymers, retentions IBU 97.0 were even achieved 5 Operation larger will potentially lead less retentate formation, i.e. concentration factors as well flux which results lower area expenses. Therefore, fixated on compounds (particles or polymers) may an efficient increase micropollutant rejection water recovery, while reducing treatment This significance, can serve way polish contaminated waters removing scale wastewater treatment.