A Viable and sustainable flat- membrane plate-and-frame module for spent acid regeneration and metal ion recovery

This study provides techno-economical insights for acid regeneration and metal recovery from spent acidic wastewater by a diffusion dialysis plate-and-frame module using Quaternized Polyepichlorohydrin – Polyacrylonitrile (QPECH-PAN) membranes. Poly-Epichlorohydrin (QPECH) membranes were synthesized 1,4-diazobicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) blended with polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Said analyzed in terms of their mechanical, physicochemical, electrochemical characteristics, providing significant results comparable to the commercial (IEC: 1.76 mmol/g, SD: 60.91%, Permselectivity: 79.5 ± 0.31%, transport no. t(−): 0.5). Mechanical characterization reveals that QPECH-PAN possess mechanical strengths (tensile strength: 329.56 MPa). Further, sheet resistivity (6.11 Ω cm2) conductivity (0.16 S/cm2) reveal relative conductive nature these Percent ion ratios found be 72% 48% respectively, separation factors 126.8 84.57 respectively. The membrane's techno-economic feasibility was also within context textile industry processing up 5500 kg/d wastewater. It indicates potential cost saving US $0.53 million on H2SO4 NaOH, as well an OPEX 40.91% against semi-continuous neutralizer.