Development of an asymmetric carbon microfiltration membrane: Application to the treatment of industrial textile wastewater

Abstract Tubular carbon microfiltration membranes have been prepared using mineral coal powder (100 μm average particle size) mixed with phenolic resin solution and organic additives. The porosity of the support can be sharply controlled by fixing the organic additives percentages, the particles size and the homogeneity of the carbon powder. A mesoporous active layer was deposited on the inner face of the carbon support by slip casting using a deflocculated slip made of mineral coal powder (1.76 μm) suspended in a phenolic resin solution. An active layer with an average pore diameter of 0.60 μm is obtained after carbonization under nitrogen atmosphere. The obtained membrane has very interesting characteristics regarding mechanical and chemical resistances. The application to the treatment of industrial textile wastewater shows good performances in term of permeate flux and efficiency (retention of COD and salinity of 50% and 30% respectively and almost a total retention of turbidity and color).