Effect of operating parameters on 2-chlorophenol removal from wastewaters by a low-pressure reverse osmosis system

Abstract

In this study, the performance of a commercial low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane system (TW30-1812-100) was evaluated for 2-chlorophenol removal from wastewaters. The influence of various operational conditions and system specifications such as feed pressure, feed flow rate, pH, and concentration on 2-chlorophenol rejection was investigated. The results showed that at optimum conditions (200 ppm feed concentration, 408.1 kPa feed pressure, pH 10, and 1.953 × 10⁻⁵ m³/s feed flow rate) 79% rejection was attainable. In addition, it was found that at the feed pH was the most effective parameter on 2-chlorophenol rejection. The rejection was increased with feed pH. An increase of feed flow rate had a positive effect on 2-chlorophenol rejection. The study of the influence of feed pressure showed a maximum critical pressure for rejection. However, the study of feed concentration on 2-chlorophenol rejection did not show a clear trend.

Keywords:

• 2-Chlorophenol
• Wastewater
• Permeate flux
• Reverse osmosis
• Rejection