Polymeric ultrafiltration membranes and surfactants

Surfactants have been extensively used in ultrafiltration processes such as membrane cleaning,removal of surfactants or other organic toxic compounds and metal ions from solutions and estimation of interactions at surfactant and membrane interface: The aim of this review is to present the possibilities that arise from the data reported in the literature on the field of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes and surfactants. This data is classified into five groups and a brief description of each article is given. Pretreatment of membranes with surfactant solutions can lead to performance increase of UF process. By Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration the separation of low molecular weight toxic substances and heavy metals is possible, extending the applications of conventional UF (e.g. separation of proteins). Through estimation of the type of interactions on membrane surface with surfactants the prediction of retention and removal of small size substances, the prevention of fouling, the modification of surfactant-embrane system, the design of new surfactant-membrane system could be achieved. Finally economical aspects of UF-surfactant-processes are given.