Title: Thin film composite type positively charged nanofiltration membrane for separation of aqueous streams and nuclear effluents

Authors: T.K. Dey, R.C. Bindal, S. Prabhakar, P.K. Tewari

Addresses: Desalination Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India. ' Desalination Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India. ' Desalination Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India. ' Desalination Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085, India

Abstract: Thin film composite type positively charged nanofiltration membrane developed by in situ polymerisation of functionalised polyethyleneimine and acid chloride has been used in various aqueous stream separations. The membrane contained fixed quaternary ammonium moieties which contributed to its positive charge. The membrane was tested for its performance in single solute feed systems containing salts of various combinations of univalent and bivalent ions (NaCl, Na2SO4, CaCl2 and MgSO4) in test cells as well as spiral module where it gave differential separation profile for these solutes with high rejection for CaCl2 and low rejection for Na2SO4. The 2512 spiral module of the membrane was further used for separation of a simulated effluent solution containing uranyl nitrate, which is a common effluent generated in the nuclear industry. The membrane gave a high separation for uranyl nitrate and low separation for ammonium nitrate indicating that both the solutes can be fractionated by the membrane when they are present together in the nuclear effluent.

Keywords: charged membranes; positive charge; nanofiltration membranes; uranyl nitrate separation; thin film composites; aqueous stream separation; nuclear effluent; nuclear waste; wastewater treatment; nuclear energy; nuclear power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJND.2011.040129

International Journal of Nuclear Desalination, 2011 Vol.4 No.3, pp.285 - 293

Published online: 14 Feb 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article