Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

Removal of Arsenic Using a Cationic Polymer Gel Impregnated with Iron Hydroxide
Published on: June 28, 2019
Unmodified starch as water-soluble binding polymer for chromium ions removal via polymer enhanced ultrafiltration
Nurul Huda Baharuddin1,2, Nik Meriam Nik Sulaiman1, Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Background:
In this study the removal of Chromium (III) and Chromium (VI) ions are investigated via polymer enhanced ultrafiltration under important process parameters. This study proposes the use of unmodified starch as a novel polymer in the ultrafiltration process and its performance on the removal of chromium ions was compared with a commonly used polymer, polyethylene glycol.
Methods:
The experiments were carried out at 1.5 bar and different pH values by using 10 kDa hollow fiber membrane operating in a cross-flow mode.
Results:
The best chromium ions removal obtained approached 99% for Chromium (III) ion by unmodified starch at alkaline pH region and at pH 7 for Chromium (VI) ions retention by polyethylene glycol. Permeate flux behavior are fluctuated for both chromium ions tested at high metal ion concentrations. Low concentration of unmodified starch is applied to reduce gelatinization behavior.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that binding of chromium ions by unmodified starch is related to granule structure which is probably a principal indicator of the non-ionic behavior of unmodified starch.
Related Concept Videos
Ion Exchange
Ion-Exchange Chromatography
Extraction: Advanced Methods
Coagulation
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Stability Enhancement and GI Retention
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

