Silicon carbide hollow fiber membranes developed for the textile industry wastewater treatment

Abstract In order to reduce the impacts of the industrial effluent on the environment, silicon carbide hollow fiber membranes were prepared by the precipitation-immersion technique and sintered at 1450 and 1500 °C. The membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, their surface structure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, pore size distribution and porosity, mechanical properties, and flow measurements with distilled water and effluent generated by the indigo blue industry. The sintered membranes presented crystalline phases of silicon carbide and aluminum oxide. The tubes presented defect-free microstructure and uniform porous surface, with porosity above 50%. The silicon carbide membrane presented significant reductions of the solutes and colloidal particle contents in the effluent. The membranes sintered at 1500 °C proved to be more efficient for reductions of the turbidity and color of the effluent. Silicon carbide hollow fiber membrane is an interesting alternative for the treatment of effluents from the textile industry.