Selecting among physical/chemical processes for removing synthetic organics from water

B. I. Dvorak, D. F. Lawler, G. E. Speitel, D. L. Jones, D. A. Boadway

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

A rational framework for selecting the least-cost treatment technology for aqueous organic wastes was developed by using performance and cost models. The following three treatment options were evaluated for 15 different chemicals in this research: packed tower air stripping, packed tower air stripping followed by gas-phase adsorption (granular activated carbon) of off-gases, and liquid-phase adsorption (granular activated carbon). The least-cost air stripping tower design was found to change when off-gas treatment was added. Air stripping without off-gas treatment was determined to be less expensive than liquid-phase adsorption in nearly every case. A methodology was created for comparing the relative costs of liquid-phase adsorption and air stripping with gas-phase adsorption. The comparison methodology is based upon physical parameters of the target chemical: Henry's constant and the solute distribution parameter. The result is a diagram for rapid identification of cases for which one treatment option is significantly less expensive than the other.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)827-838
Number of pages12
JournalWater Environment Research
Volume65
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Ecological Modeling
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

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