Development and Characterization of a MCM-48 Ceramic Composite Membrane for the Removal of Cr(VI) from an Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Ordered mesoporous MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane was synthesized on a macroporous ceramic support using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as source materials by an in situ hydrothermal crystallization technique. The repeated multiple coating of MCM-48 on a circular-shaped ceramic support reduces the pore size and porosity of the membrane from 1.0 to 0.142 μm and from 47 to 22%, respectively. The hydraulic permeability of the fabricated MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane is evaluated by permeation of pure water at various applied pressures ranging between 69 and 345 kPa. Various solvent flow tests through MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane demonstrate that permeability of the solvent is mainly controlled by the chemical nature of the liquids. Further, the performance of the MCM-48 ceramic composite membrane is evaluated by separation of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution at various operating pressures, feed concentrations, and pH of the solution. The highest rejection of 81% is observed at an operating pressure of 207 kPa for the feed concentration of 1,000 ppm at pH 2.