Microfiltration of amphoteric surfactant using ceramic membranes

The microfiltration of commercially available amphoteric surfactant using ceramic membranes has been investigated. Various combinations operating conditions such as pH, electrolyte and surfactant concentrations were employed. Zeta potential and adsorption isotherms were obtained for the components of membrane surfactant system as functions of pH using surfactant or indifferent electrolyte (KCl). The shift in the membrane isoelectric point induced by the surfactant is linked to the carboxylic groups present on the surfactant which are believed to play a dominant role in the net surface charge of the membrane. A minimum in the permeate flux was found at the pH corresponding to the isoelectric point of the zwitterionic surfactant. This behaviour is ascribed to the interactions occurring between the surfactant–surfactant molecules and the surfactant–membrane. The higher fluxes obtained at low pH as compared to high pH arise from different fouling mechanisms and ionic strengths. Lower fluxes were found when inorganic electrolytes were used in conjunction with surfactant. However, as the valency of the salt increases, flux behaviour of the zwitterionic surfactant (close to isoelectric point) does not vary whilst the cationic and anionic state of the surfactants are much more affected. Interactions between surfactant molecules as a result of the charge screening effects by the larger valence ions are encouraged. The permeate flux declines with an increasing surfactant concentration even though some concentrations fall under the critical micelle concentration (c.m.c.). This is attributed to concentration polarisation in which the accumulated surfactant concentration at the membrane surface could form a stable viscous phase which is resistant to permeate flow in the secondary layer next to the membrane surface. This paper demonstrates the role interactions such as surfactant–surfactant and surfactant–membrane play in influencing the filterability of surfactant solutions using ceramic membranes.