Phenol solubilization by cetyl pyridinium chloride micelles in micellar enhanced ultrafiltration

An attempt has been made to analyze the ultrafiltration data of cetyl pyridinium chloride solution. Solubilization of phenol in the micelles and consequent micellar enhanced ultrafiltration is also studied. Experiments were carried out in both stirred and unstirred cells. For a particular experimental conditions, flux was obtained invariant with time for surfactant solution. There was a distribution of organic solute between aqueous and micelle phase. The solute solubilization capacity of the micelles decreased with increase in applied pressure during ultrafiltration. With increase in surfactant concentration the extent of solubilization of organic solute increased but at the same time, the permeate concentration of the surfactant with respect to the concentration in the feed solution also increased, which is not desirable for industrial applications. Therefore, there must exist an optimal surfactant to solute ratio to conduct the most efficient micellar enhanced ultrafiltration. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.