Grantee Research Project Results
Removal of VOCs From Water With an Air-Stripper/Membrane Vapor Separation System
EPA Contract Number: 68D03029Title: Removal of VOCs From Water With an Air-Stripper/Membrane Vapor Separation System
Investigators: Mairal, Anurag
Small Business: Membrane Technology and Research Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: April 1, 2003 through September 1, 2003
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2003) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , SBIR - Water and Wastewater , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Treatment of water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a major problem for the U.S. chemical industry. Currently, VOCs are removed from moderately contaminated wastewater streams by processes such as steam stripping, and wastewaters containing low levels of VOCs are treated by air stripping combined with a carbon adsorption off-gas treatment system. Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.'s research project involves the development of a process that combines air stripping with membrane separation to recover VOCs from the stripper off-gas. The optimum system appears to be a tray stripper fitted with a high-pressure membrane separation unit. Such a system could remove 95-99 percent of the VOCs present in contaminated water; the removed VOCs are recovered as a liquid condensate. The economics of the technology are competitive with alternative processes, particularly for streams containing more than 100 ppm VOC and having flow rates less than 10-30 gal/min.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, water, air-stripper/membrane vapor separation system, volatile organic compound, VOC, carbon adsorption off-gas treatment, chemical industry, EPA., Scientific Discipline, Water, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Wastewater, Analytical Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, Water Pollution Control, wastewater treatment, air stripper, membrane vapor separation, VOC emissions, membrane-based, membrane filtration, chemical manufacturing, wastewater discharges, air water exchangeProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.