REMOVAL OF TOXIC ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS FROM AQUEOUS-SOLUTION BY SOLVENT SUBLATION

Removal of organic compounds from an aqueous solution has been studied using solvent sublation. The organic compounds are mono-chlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene and naphthalene. They are removed at high efficiency by solvent sublation, because they are hydrophobic and have low vapor pressures. A model for the removal mechanism of the organic compounds from an aqueous phase is constructed and the removal percentage calculated from the model is compared with experimental results. Removal percentages for the organic compounds, by bubbling and by transfer to the organic solvent in the upper part of the column, are calculated from model equations. When salts are added in the aqueous phase,the removal percentage of monochlorobenzene increases due to the salting out effect. The removal percentage of mono-chlorobenzene is slightly enhanced with addition of ethanol to the aqueous phase, which makes the diameters of bubbles smaller and consequently increases surface area per unit volume of bubble. The addition of salts and ethanol has an effect on the increase in removal percentage of the organic compounds.