ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Separation of Anionic Surfactants in a Sequential
Ultrafiltration – Ion Exchange Purification System
Izabela Kowalska
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Institute of Environment Protection Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology,
Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(3):677-684
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ABSTRACT
Efficiency of a sequential ultrafiltration – ion exchange purification system was studied by testing separation
of an anionic surfactant (SDBS) from aqueous solutions. Commercially available ultrafiltration membranes
with cut-off values of 5, 10, and 30 kDa were used for the tests. The ion exchange processes were carried
out on five types of ion-exchange resins – both macroporous and gel-based. Overall efficiency of the
integrated purification system was determined by numerous parameters, including quality of the solution to
be purified, membrane material type, membrane cut-off value, the type of ion-exchange resin, its dose, and
solution contact time of the ion-exchange resin. It was shown that the application of ion exchange constitutes
a highly effective final purification stage after the membrane process. The obtained results allowed for listing
the integrated systems in the following descending efficiency order depending on the resin being used:
MIEX® > SBW > A400 > A200 > A100.