Performance comparison of four polymeric ultrafiltration membranes for wool scouring effluent treatment
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The water footprint of wool scouring could be reduced with membrane filtration of scouring effluent, allowing recycling of purified washing water. This study compares the performance of four commercially available polymeric ultrafiltration membranes for scouring effluent treatment. In a cross-flow system, permeate flux decreased by 30–54% after 120 minutes of filtration. Chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and colour retentions ranged from 72–90%, 98–99%, and 80–93%, respectively. After one week exposure to scouring effluent, degradation was observed in the regenerated cellulose membrane, in which the molecular weight cut-off increased from 3.5 to 8.2 kDa. Polysulphone and regenerated cellulose had the highest fluxes, but polysulphone was prone to fouling, whereas regenerated cellulose degraded, making composite fluoropolymer membrane a competitive alternative. The results offer guidance for membrane selection and contribute to establishing a foundation for membrane-based effluent recycling in commercial wool scouring facilities. • Sheep wool scouring effluents were ultrafiltrated using four polymeric membranes. • Properties measured from permeates were pH, conductivity, COD, turbidity and colour. • Retentions of properties had only minimal differences between the membranes. • ETNA10PP membrane fouled the least by having the smallest decreases in its fluxes. • Ultrafiltration could enable water recycling in the sheep wool scouring process.
Source: Water Resources and Industry
Authors: Tuomas Sinisaari, Joona Nieminen, Ari Ora, Mika Mänttäri, Tiina Rissanen
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,613
Award: G3343547146
OpenAlex ID: W4416659892