Emulsion liquid membrane modelling for chromium removal from electroplating wastewater using tomac as a carrier.

Hexavalent chromium, emanating primarily from the electroplating industries, can be reduced to the less toxic trivalent variety by several methods, including emulsion liquid membrane (ELM). In this work, studies on the continuous removal of chromium from authentic electroplating wastewater by ELM are reported. The effects of treat ratio, external feed phase, and stripping agent concentration were examined. A mathematical boundary breakage model was used to study the extraction efficiency of chromium through the ELM process. The model representing the prediction of ELM extraction performance for chromium was validated through the comparison between the simulation and experimental results. The result showed the simulation model is found to be in good agreement with the experimental result. Almost 100 % of 40 ppm chromium in the external feed phase was extracted within 3 to 5 minutes using 0.022 M TOMAC as extractant, 1.0 M acidic thiourea in the internal phase, and 1 to 5 of treat ratio. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.