Separation of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds from coacervate phase of branched secondary alcohol ethoxylates surfactant using Co-current vacuum stripping

Abstract

This work to suty the performance of the co-current vacuum stripping using a packed column for Hydrophobic Volatile Organic Compounds (HVOCs) removal from contaminated surfactant solution. The studied surfactant was the branched secondary alcohol ethoxylates (AEs). Two series of HVOCs, which are the aromatic, and the chlorinated HVOCs were selected as contaminants. The hydrophobicity of HVOCs was indicated by the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow). The voatility and solubility of HVOCs in the surfactant system were determined in terms of an apparent Henry's law constant and a solubilization constant, respectively. The results show that, as Kow increase, Ks also increase whereas Happ of the HVOCs are significantly decreased. Furthermore, The tendency of the HVOCs to solubilize in surfactant micelles had a significant effect on the efficiency of the vacuum stripping column. Moreover, HVOCS removal efficiency was assessed in terms of percentage of HVOCs removed and the overall liquid phase mass transfer coefficient (Kxa). More than 89.8% for all HVOCS is removed form surfactant solution with in a single stage operation. In conclusion, for both aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbon series; as Kow increase, the percentage of HVOCs removal and Kxa decrease due to the effect of hydrophobicity of solute.