A Simple Two-Step Cloud Point Extraction Process for Removing Fluorescent Whitening Agents VBL in Industrial Wastewater and Recycling of Surfactant

摘要

With the enhancement of people's environmental consciousness, the treatment of wastewater was studied as the focus of this paper. Here we present a simple two-step extraction to realize efficient separation of fluorescent whitening agents VBL and cyclic utilization of surfactant to reduce the cost of wastewater treatment and environmental pollution. Firstly, the removal of VBL has been achieved by CPE using TX-114 as nonionic surfactant. The results showed that complete extraction was possible using 1% (w/w) TX-114 for VBL concentration not exceeding 17.5 mg/L, otherwise using a higher concentration of 1.5% (w/w) TX-114. Then the surfactant from the coacervate phase was recycled by changing the potential difference between phases. The morphology of micelles and solubilization mechanism of VBL were demonstrated through the observation of a fluorescent microscope. This method was successfully used to remove the VBL from wastewater sample and the surfactant could be reused several times.