Arsenic (V) removal from groundwater by GE-HL nanofiltration membrane: effects of arsenic concentration, pH, and co-existing ions

Abstract

A laboratory-scale investigation was performed to study arsenic (As (V)) removal by negatively charged GE-HL nanofiltration (NF) membrane in simulated drinking water. Effects of As (V) concentration (0–200μg·L^−1), pH, and co-ions and counter-ions were investigated. The NF membrane presented good stability, and the rejection rates exceeded 90%. The rejection rates of As (V) decreased with the increase of As (V) concentration, while it increased with the increase of pH (reached 96% at pH 6.75). Moreover, a negative relationship was observed between the co-existing ions of Cl^−, Na⁺, SO₄^2−, and Ca²⁺ and the removal of As (V), in which bivalent ions presented more significant effects than monovalent ions.

Keywords

nanofiltration (NF) / rejection rate / co-existing ion / co-ion / counter-ion