Bentazon removal from aqueous solution by reverse osmosis; optimization of effective parameters using response surface methodology

Although bentazon is widely used as an agricultural herbicide, it is harmful to humans and poses many environmental threats. This study focused on the treatment of wastewater contaminated with bentazon pesticides using membrane technology. In this regard, low-pressure reverse osmosis (RO) was employed as it has already been used in the removal of other micro-pollutants. The effects of process variables on water flux and bentazon rejection were studied: temperature, pressure, and bentazon feed concentration. Based on central composite design (CCD), the quadratic model was engaged to correlate the process variables with the water flux and the bentazon removal responses. The obtained results showed that the bentazon rejection increased by enhancing the pressure while it decreased at higher feed solution concentration. However, with increasing temperature, the amount of bentazon removal was reduced. A bentazon rejection efficiency of 100 % could be achieved under optimum conditions (i.e., the temperature of 29.8 ℃ and hydrostatic pressure of 12.6 bar for a feed solution concentration of 66.9 mg/L). Therefore, reverse osmosis can effectively remove bentazon.