Optimization of the ultrafiltration of latex wastewaters

The treatment of spent latex wastewaters by ultrafiltration is connected not only with pollution control but also with the recovery of valuable latex by-products. It was the aim of these investigations to determine the suitability of tubular polyacrylonitrile and polysulfone membranes for the ultrafiltration of latex wastewaters. Experiments were carried out in batch mode at a constant concentration and also in the concentration mode. The efficiency of the process was determined by measuring the flux rate and retention coefficients of total solids and total organic carbon. Ultrafiltration was carried out at a temperature of 298 K and in a pressure range of 0.05-0.35 MPa, cross-flow velocity range of 1-3.5 m/s and concentration range of 1-13%. The obtained results have been utilized to modelling mathematically the ultrafiltration of latex wastewaters. The constants of the general dimensional mass transfer correlation as well as the dependence of the permeate flux rate on the ultrafiltration process parameters (pressure, cross-flow velocity) and the concentration of wastewaters, have been determined.