Filtration of solution containing heavy metals and dyes by means of ultrafiltration membranes deposited on support made of Moroccan clay Original Research Article

The use of inorganic membranes in pollution treatment is actually limited by the cost of such membranes. Advantages of inorganic membranes over organic ones are their chemical, thermal and pH resistance. In this study, low cost ZnAl2O4-TiO2 ultrafiltration membranes were tested for removing Cd(NO3)2, Pb(NO3)2, Cr(NO3)3, methylene blue and orange acid from water. The electrical interactions between ionic species and surface material govern the rejections of heavy metals and charged species. Retentions of dyes methylene blue and orange acid are also important but the adsorption of the species leads to fouling when the concentration increases.