Successful removal of phenol from industrial wastewater using novel hydrophobic modified ceramic hollow fiber membrane contactors with remarkably high stability

Wastewater pollution has become a serious global issue in recent years. One of the most prevalent industrial wastewater contaminants is phenol, a hazardous aromatic organic molecule. Part of the answer is to promote novel technologies for reducing the quantity of phenol (PH) in industrial wastewater. The liquid–liquid (LL) PH extraction process through a hydrophobically modified ceramic (Al₂O₃) hollow fiber (Al₂O₃HF) membrane contactor from an aqueous solution with a high initial concentration of PH (3500 ppm) was studied for the first time. Al₂O₃HF membranes were prepared by a combined phase-inversion and sintering process. All membranes were fully characterized. PH extraction process tests were performed at a temperature range from room temperature to 50 °C. Under room temperature conditions, the total PH extraction (%) was 80 % with respect to the initial PH concentration. The total PH extraction (%) increases as the temperature increases, reaching a value of about 91 % at 50 °C. The durability of the Al₂O₃HF membrane contactor during a long-term LL PH extraction was investigated at 40 °C. The Al₂O₃HF membrane contactor exhibited no degradation in LL PH removal ability after a 100-hour LL PH extraction operation.