Heavy metal removal from industrial wastewater using membrane filtration techniques and bacterial biosorption

This study justifies the use of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes according to their high selectivity and efficient removal of heavy metals, at low concentrations in comparison to other conventional methods such as chemical precipitation.The NF system treated laboratory scale wastewater that contained Ni(II) Cr(VI) and Cu(II) at concentrations of 100 to 300 ppm.It is found that the NF system was able to remove more than 87%, 79% and 71% of Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Ni(II) respectively.In comparison, the RO system eliminated 93% of Cu(II), 85% of Cr(VI) and 80% of Ni(II).The permeate flux varied, from 17 to 65 L/m²•hr.In parallel biosorption of Cr(VI) Cu(II) and Ni(II) using Pseudomonas sp. was investigated.The experiment used a metal concentration of 100 ppm.Pseudomonas sp. was able to remove Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Ni(II) with an efficiency of 93%, 88% and 91% respectively.Consequently, this research aligns directly with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by demonstrating effective technologies for improving water quality, minimizing hazardous chemical release, and facilitating safe water reuse.