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Evaluation of Commercial Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membranes for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Surface Water in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Author

Listed:
  • Vercus Lumami Kapepula

    (Hydrobiology Research Center, Department of Hydrology, Uvira 73, Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Department of Chemistry, University of Burundi/Bujumbura, Bujumbura 1550, Burundi
    Materials & Process Engineering (iMMC-IMAP), UCLouvain, Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
    Research & Innovation Center for Process Engineering (ReCIPE), Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

  • Mar García Alvarez

    (Materials & Process Engineering (iMMC-IMAP), UCLouvain, Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
    Research & Innovation Center for Process Engineering (ReCIPE), Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

  • Vida Sang Sefidi

    (Materials & Process Engineering (iMMC-IMAP), UCLouvain, Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
    Research & Innovation Center for Process Engineering (ReCIPE), Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

  • Estella Buleng Njoyim Tamungang

    (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang 96, Cameroon
    Department of Chemistry, Higher Teacher Training College, The University of Bamenda, Bamenda 39, Cameroon)

  • Théophile Ndikumana

    (Department of Chemistry, University of Burundi/Bujumbura, Bujumbura 1550, Burundi)

  • Dieu-Donné Musibono

    (Department of the Environment, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 127, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Bart Van Der Bruggen

    (Process Engineering for Sustainable Systems (ProcESS), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
    Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Patricia Luis

    (Materials & Process Engineering (iMMC-IMAP), UCLouvain, Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
    Research & Innovation Center for Process Engineering (ReCIPE), Place Sainte Barbe 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)

Abstract

This study evaluates the performance of commercial reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the removal of metal ions from synthetic water and surface water carried from the north-west of Lake Tanganyika in the city of Uvira, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Metal ion analyses were performed by the standardized ICP-MS and ICP-OES methods. The RO membrane showed higher metal ion rejection in high-concentration solutions (synthetic samples) prepared in the laboratory as well as in low-concentration samples from real raw water collected near Lake Tanganyika. Rejection levels were higher than 98% for Cr 3+ , Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ , As 3+ , Ni 2+ , and Sb +3 ions in the synthetic solutions, and 99.2, 98.8, 98.6, 99.2, 98.4, and 98.8%, respectively, in the real samples. The concentrations of metals in the permeate varied depending on the feed concentration and were 0.15 to 1.02 mg/L, 0.33 to 22 mg/L, and 0.11 to 22 mg/L in RO, NF90, and NF270 membranes, respectively. Regarding the NF membranes, the rejection of Cr, Ni, and Cd ions was interesting: 98.2, 97.8, and 92.3%, respectively. However, it was lower for Pb, As, and Sb ions: 76.9, 52.5 and 64.1%, respectively. The flux of NF was 329 to 375 L/m 2 .h, much higher than for RO membranes, which had a flux of 98 to 132 L/m 2 .h. The studied membranes are thus a feasible solution to remove the studied metals from real water sources at low concentrations since they meet the standards of the World Health Organization on specific values assigned to chemicals from industrial sources and human habitation areas where these ions are present in drinking water.

Suggested Citation

  • Vercus Lumami Kapepula & Mar García Alvarez & Vida Sang Sefidi & Estella Buleng Njoyim Tamungang & Théophile Ndikumana & Dieu-Donné Musibono & Bart Van Der Bruggen & Patricia Luis, 2022. "Evaluation of Commercial Reverse Osmosis and Nanofiltration Membranes for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Surface Water in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:4:y:2022:i:4:p:80-1316:d:1003275
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zheng, Xiang & Zhang, Zhenxing & Yu, Dawei & Chen, Xiaofen & Cheng, Rong & Min, Shang & Wang, Jiangquan & Xiao, Qingcong & Wang, Jihua, 2015. "Overview of membrane technology applications for industrial wastewater treatment in China to increase water supply," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 105(PA), pages 1-10.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wuhib Zeine Ousman & Esayas Alemayehu & Patricia Luis, 2025. "Fluoride Removal and Recovery from Groundwater Using an Integrated Reverse Osmosis–Membrane Crystallization Process," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-30, May.

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