Influences of molecular weight, molecular size, flux, and recovery for aromatic pesticide removal by nanofiltration membranes

    Authors

    S. S. Chen; J. S. Taylor; L. A. Mulford;C. D. Norris

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Desalination

    Keywords

    aromatic pesticide; nanofiltration; molecular weight; molecular length; and width; flux; recovery; diffusion control; REVERSE-OSMOSIS; REJECTION PROPERTIES; AQUEOUS-SOLUTION; MICROPOLLUTANTS; SEPARATION; Engineering, Chemical; Water Resources

    Abstract

    Eleven aromatic pesticides were used for a removal study using a 4040 spiral-wound polyamide nanofiltration (NF) membrane. The influences of molecular weight, molecular size (length and width), flux, and recovery were studied. The molecular weights of these pesticides are from 198 Da to 286 Da. Molecular sizes were determined by theoretical calculation for their length and width by "Hyperchem" based on their structures and orientation. Furthermore, the study held constant for two operated recoveries and fluxes to determine their effects. The results showed that the NF membrane can remove pesticides from 46% to 100% based on their molecular weights, lengths, fluxes and recoveries. The rejections were increased as the molecular weight increased, and a sharp increase to complete rejection (100%) was observed around MW 200 Da. Therefore, a molecular weight cut-off (MWC) of 200 Da can be determined for this membrane from this result. In addition, the results showed the molecular length was more significant than molecular width for these pesticides. The rejections were not only dependent on molecular weight and length, but also on operational flux and recovery. For a particular pesticide in the two operational fluxes and recoveries, the highest percent rejections occurred on high flux and low recovery, and lowest percent rejection occurred on low flux and high recovery, which would indicate the basic diffusion control theory.

    Journal Title

    Desalination

    Volume

    160

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2004

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    103

    Last Page

    111

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000188736800001

    ISSN

    0011-9164

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