A B S T R A C TIn this study, bisphenol A (BPA) was removed from aqueous solutions using a low-pressure reverse osmosis system. The influence of various parameters such as feed pressure (136-544 kPa), feed flow rate (0.25-1.172 L/min), feed concentration (30-100 mg/L), and pH (8, 10, and 11) on BPA rejection was investigated. The results showed a maximum rejection of 87.34% for a 50 mg/L feed concentration at 408.1 kPa, pH 8, and 1.172 L/min feed flow rate. The effect of feed pressure on BPA rejection, showed a critical pressure at which the maximum rejection was observed. This critical pressure was measured to be in the range of 408-476 kPa. The most effective parameter on the BPA rejection was feed flow rate which showed a severe concentration polarization at the surface of the membrane. The effect of feed pH revealed a minimum rejection at pH 10.

2015) Effect of operating parameters on 2-chlorophenol removal from wastewaters by a low-pressure reverse osmosis system, Desalination and Water Treatment, 55:1, 114-124, A B S T R A C TIn this study, the performance of a commercial low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane system (TW30-1812-100) was evaluated for 2-chlorophenol removal from wastewaters. The influence of various operational conditions and system specifications such as feed pressure, feed flow rate, pH, and concentration on 2-chlorophenol rejection was investigated. The results showed that at optimum conditions (200 ppm feed concentration, 408.1 kPa feed pressure, pH 10, and 1.953 × 10 −5 m 3 /s feed flow rate) 79% rejection was attainable. In addition, it was found that at the feed pH was the most effective parameter on 2-chlorophenol rejection. The rejection was increased with feed pH. An increase of feed flow rate had a positive effect on 2-chlorophenol rejection. The study of the influence of feed pressure showed a maximum critical pressure for rejection. However, the study of feed concentration on 2-chlorophenol rejection did not show a clear trend.