Advanced Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration for the Removal of Cadmium (Cd2+) from Wastewater

Heavy metals released from industrial effluents accumulate in the human body through the ecosystem, causing several health disorders. This study investigated the removal of cadmium (Cd2+) using Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration (MEUF). This study employed sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and flat-sheet polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes to separate Cd2+ ions from lab-simulated water. The experiments involved examining the removal efficiency of membranes without SDS usage, optimizing SDS concentration for Cd2+ removal, and evaluating the long-term membrane performance. Other parameters include analyzing the removal percentage of varying Cd2+ at constant SDS dosage, examining the effect of pH, and electrolyte concentrations on the removal of Cd2+. Several analytical characterizations were performed, such as FT-IR, and SEM. The FTIR confirms the aromatic C-H group at 620–867 cm−1, the sulfone group at 1100–1200 cm−1, and the ether group at 1230–1270 cm−1 and the SEM analysis indicates no significant fouling, which aligns with the stable flux observed over time. The result showed that the optimum SDS concentration for Cd2+ removal was 1 Critical Micellar Concentration (CMC), achieving over 99% removal. The presence of an electrolyte decreased Cd2+ removal efficiency, while the pH (3 to 9) had no effect on removal. Our findings suggest that the SDS-aided ultrafiltration process is suitable for eliminating Cd2+ from wastewater.