Modified polyethersulfone membranes for micellar enhanced ultrafiltration of chromium

Separation performances of micellar enhanced ultrafiltration process in Cr(III) and Cr(VI) removal has been evaluated. The neat as well as sulfonated and aminated derivatives of polyethersulfone were tested as the material for membrane preparation while hexadecylpyridine chloride and sodium dodecyl sulfate served as surfactant. It was shown that modified membranes can better reject both forms of chromium in the micellar enhanced ultrafiltration than their neutral analogues. In all cases, the surfactants should be applied at the amounts that give 5 critical micelle concentration. Any additives that reduce the cmc value are also profitable from the operational point of view.