Removal of Heavy and Radioactive Elements from Phosphogypsum leach Solution by Ultrafiltration Membrane

Abstract

The (UF) membrane technologies are very efficient for the treatment of industrial wastewater and solution containing heavy and radioactive elements to reduce water consumption and preserving the environment. After leaching process for phosphogypsum by water deionized and obtain on a solution that contains heavy and radioactive elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, U, Ni, K, and Th  ), were subjected to treatment by UF system in the laboratory. The results showed that Polymers blending have an improvement in the morphological structure of the membranes. The addition of PES has improved the characteristics of the membrane such as the mean pore size, narrower pore size distribution and membrane hydrophilicity.  The results showed that, the porosity was (61.31%) for (PPSU 20%-PES 3%) and it was increased to (72.3%) when the concentration was increased to (PPSU 20%-PES 4%) and then decreasing to (51.12%) at the concentration (PPSU 20%-PES 5%). The least value of the porosity was for the membrane prepared from neat (PPSU 20%) was (21.22%). The angle of contact regarding neat (PPSU 20%) has been (81.2°), decreased to (68.4°), (58.3°) in the case when PES’s concentrations reaching 3%, and 4% respectively. Increased to (64.8°) when the concentration of PES reaches to (5%). The permeate flux and rejection of heavy and radioactive elements increase with increasing of PES (3,4wt%) with increasing percent to  5wt% decreasing both permeate flux and rejection, The addition of 4% PES has improved the characteristics of the membrane such the mean pore size, narrower pore size distribution and membrane hydrophilicity.