Effect of ionic strength and pH over the removal of natural organic mater. Cationic-Anionic PAN membranes

Abstract

Natural organic matter in aquatic environments can form carcinogenic organochlorine compounds when is chlorinated. On the other hand, the lack of water in the southeast of Spain is the main reason to study new alternatives of purification techniques and their optimisation. As a consequence, it will improve the use of natural waters. The objective of this work is to study the removal of humic acids by means of an ultrafiltration system using cationic and anionic membranes of poliacrylonitrile (50 kDa MWCO), and analyze effects of pressure, conductivity and pH. In the current paper three different waters were tested, humic acid (HA) solutions from Aldrich Chemical Co., water of Amadorio swamp and water of Pedrera swamp. These superficial water are situated in southeast of Spain, in the province of Alicante.