Research the performance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal by NF membranes

PAHs, which have a disrupting effects on human's health, is increasingly noticed in aquatic environment. And it is essential to find an efficiency way to remove PAHs from water. By contrast, nanofiltration technology is a better way than traditional methods. This paper offers a study on the impact of ionic strength, pH and adsorption on the PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene and fluoranthene) removal by nanofiltration membrane. The experimental results indicated that there is a higher flux by BDXN-70 NF membrane than by BDXN-90 NF membrane and the rejection of PAHs relatively efficiency for BDXN-70 membrane. The trace PAHs in water could be better rejected (rejections are more than 95%) by nanofiltration membrane stability at acidic solutions. There is little influence of rejection on the different ionic strength except naphthalene. Moreover, there is a large adsorption in the beginning and it declines significantly at the later time. After 6 h, it is seemed to have reached saturation. Then the rejection will maintain constant until the membrane were fouled seriously. © 2011 IEEE.