Combined humic substance and heavy metals agglomeration, and membrane filtration under saline conditions

Humic substances-heavy metals complexation combined with membrane filtration is reported. The effects of salinity, humic substances (HS) concentration, heavy metals concentration, and trans-membrane pressure (TMP) on HS and heavy metals retention using two membranes are studied. Membrane fouling is also studied at the aforementioned conditions. NF270 experienced higher fouling. Moreover, salinity tests showed increasing fouling rate and reduction in membrane retention with increasing salinity level. While increasing HS concentration reduced HS retention and increased heavy metals retention and membrane fouling. Heavy metals concentration reduced the NF270 HS retention, but did not affect the P005F HS retention. In addition, TMP did not affect HS and heavy metals retention nor NF270 fouling, but increased P005F fouling.