Novel membrane reactor design for heavy-metal removal by alginate nanoparticles

The membrane reactor was also employed in conjuncton with a membrane composed of Sargassum glaucescens brown algae nanoparticles to test its efficacy in removing nickel and cobalt from real effluents. Alginate nanoparticles with an average diameter of 95.75 nm and surface area of 11.25 m(2) g(-1) were used. Maximum uptake capacities of Ni2+ and Co2+ were obtained at pH 6.0, optimum biosorption capacity of the alginate nanoparticles was found to be 90.25% for Ni2+ and 86.13% for Co2+. An artificial neural network was applied for the prediction of percentages of biosorption capacity. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.