Mechanism of Charged Membrane Ultrafiltration of Salt Solutions

Abstract The mechanism of removal of electrolytes from acid mine water by charged membrane ultrafiltration, as employed by Bhattacharyya et al., is analyzed. In view of the influence of co-ions on the performance of the charged membranes, of the streaming potential engendered by the applied pressure differential, and of the preponderance of multivalent cations in mine water, the theoretically ideal conditions for this ultrafiltration would encompass the use of cationic membranes at a low pH (obtained with HC1) and relatively high pressures. It would not sesem that Reynolds numbers >2500 are required, nor that temperature differences would significantly influence the separation efficiency.