Application of micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) for arsenic (v) removal from aqueous solutions and process optimization

ABSTRACTIn this study, the removal of arsenic was evaluated using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process. Response surface methodology and Box-Behnken matrix methods were also applied to design the experiments and determine the optimum conditions. Therefore, the main operational parameters including pH (4–10), initial concentration of arsenic (20–80 µg/L), and concentration of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (1–3 mM) were investigated. The results of analysis of variance revealed a good agreement between experimental data and the built model with the determination coefficient (R2) of 0.99. Accordingly, the removal efficiency obtained was about 94.8% at the optimal condition (pH = 6.73, the initial concentration of arsenic = 29.44 µg/L, and CTAB concentration of 2.83 mM).