Removal of naproxen and diclofenac using an aquaporin hollow fiber forward osmosis module
Irena Petrinić, Hermina Bukšek, Ildikó Galambos, Renáta Gerencsér-Berta, M. S. Sheldon, Claus Hélix‐Nielsen
Abstract
ABSTRACT The rejection of trace organic contaminants, contained in model solutions, was investigated using an osmotically driven membrane filtration process. Two compounds naproxen (NAP) (0.1–0.88 mg/L), and diclofenac sodium (DIC-Na) (0.39–1.55 mg/L) and a mixture (where concentrations for NAP were 0.57–0.81 mg/L and for DIC-Na 0.39–0.46 mg/L) were selected for this study as the feed solutions (FS). The draw solutions (DS) were 1 and 2 M NaCl, respectively. Forward osmosis filtrations were carried out using an aquaporin inside membrane hollow fiber forward osmosis lab-module. The average water flux was 12 and 24 LMH while an average reverse salt flux was 2 and 6 GMH for 1 and 2 M NaCl DS and deionized water as FS, respectively. When filtrating NAP, DIC-Na, and the mixture, the highest flux was achieved with the DIC-Na followed by NAP and the mixture and were more pronounced using 2 M NaCl solution as a DS. From the rejection results, it can be concluded that DIC was completely rejected both in its solution and in the mixtures, while NAP rejection varied from 98.4% and 98.8% for 1 and 2 M NaCl and 98.8% in the mixture when 2 M NaCl was used as a DS.