Assessment of fouling mechanisms on reverse osmosis (RO) membrane during permeation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) solutions.

Fouling mechanisms are mainly caused by the deposition of organic compounds that reduce the removal efficiency on reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. It can be described by mathematical models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the membrane fouling and rejection mechanisms when aqueous solutions containing 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in different concentrations are permeated at 5 and 10 bar in a bench-scale dead-end RO system.

Treatment of Bisphenol A (BPA) in water using UV/HO and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes: assessment of estrogenic activity and membrane adsorption.

Removal of an endocrine disrupting compound, Bisphenol A (BPA), from water was investigated using two treatment processes, UV/HO advanced oxidation (AOP) and reverse osmosis (membrane separation). Furthermore, changes in estrogenic activity using in vitro yeast estrogen screen assay as well as the adsorption of BPA by the membrane surface were evaluated. The best UV/HO performance was obtained using the highest established values of all parameters, reaching 48% BPA removal.

Processing of spent platinum-based catalysts via fusion with potassium hydrogenosulfate.

This work describes a route for processing spent platinum-based commercial catalysts (Pt and PtSnIn/Al(2)O(3)) via fusion with potassium hydrogenosulfate (KHSO(4)). Samples were previously ground. The optimized experimental parameters were: temperature, 450°C; time, 3h; sample/flux mass ratio, 1/10.

Recovery of platinum from spent catalysts by liquid-liquid extraction in chloride medium.

This work examines a hydrometallurgical route for processing spent commercial catalysts (Pt and PtSnIn/A(2)O(3)) used in Brazilian refineries for recovery of the noble metal with less final wastes generation. Samples were initially pre-oxidized (500 degrees C, 5 h) in order to eliminate coke. The basis of the present route is the partial dissolution of the pre-oxidized catalyst in aqua-regia.