Treatment of Heavy Metal Wastewater by Ceramic Microfilter Functionalized with Magnesium Oxides

Abstract

Functionalized ceramic microfilters can treat both particulate and ionic heavy metals via simultaneous sorption and filtration capabilities. This study investigated the reactivity of the raw material of the functionalized ceramic microfilter to heavy metal ions (Zn, Cu) by using a MgO-coated ceramic ball. The maximum removal capacities (Q(m)) of the ceramic ball were calculated using the Langmuir isotherm model, and found to be 4.53 (Zn) and 1.70 (Cu) mg/g. To evaluate the reactivity of the ceramic filter to heavy metals, batch experiments were conducted using artificial and real heavy metal-contaminated wastewater. The results showed that the functionalized ceramic filter had a higher removal efficiency for Zn and Cu than for As and Cr. In addition, the functionalized ceramic filter showed high removal efficiency even in heavy metal wastewater mixed with various heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, and Cr. Filtration experiments using real complex heavy metal wastewater containing various heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, and As) demonstrated that the functionalized ceramic filter had better treatment performance compared to the raw ceramic filter. Functionalized ceramic microfilters that can sorb heavy metals simultaneously with filtration are expected to improve the removal efficiency of filtration processes, and to simplify the heavy metal treatment process.