Removal of phosphorous using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration with cationic surfactant: Effects of surrounding pH

During the phosphorous removal using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) with a cationic surfactant, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), the effects of surrounding pH values were investigated. Phosphorous has various forms and number of charges according to surrounding pH in aqueous phase. At the low pH, the removal of phosphorous and rejection of CPC were lower than those at the high pH, because the valence of phosphorous increased from -1 to -2 as the surrounding pH changed from 5 to 9.