Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration and air stripping for surfactant-contaminant separation and surfactant reuse

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6592.1996.tb00574.x· OSTI ID:215588

Lipe, K M; Sabatini, D A; Hasegawa, M A; Harwell, J H

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) and air stripping were evaluated for surfactant-contaminant separation and surfactant recovery. Two linear alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate (DPDS) surfactants were evaluated with the contaminants naphthalene and trichloroethylene. A separation model developed from micellar partitioning principles showed a good correlation to batch MEUF studies, whereas flux analysis highlighted concentration polarization effects in relation to hydrophobe length. MEUF effectively concentrated the surfactant-contaminant system (93 to 99% retention); however, this did not result in surfactant-contaminant separation. Batch and continuous flow air stripping models were developed based upon air/water ratio, surfactant concentration, and micellar partitioning; model predictions were validated by experimental data. Sensitivity analyses illustrated the decline in contaminant-surfactant separation with increasing surfactant concentration (e.g., TCE removal efficiency declines from 83% to 37% as C-16 DPDS concentration increases from 0 to 55 mM). This effect is greater for more hydrophobic contaminants (naphthalene vs. TCE) and surfactants with greater solubilization potential (C16-DPDS vs. C-12 DPDS). The resulting design equations can account for this effect and thus properly size air strippers to achieve the desired removal efficiency in the presence of surfactant micelles. Proper selection and design of surfactant-contaminant separation and surfactant recovery systems are integral to optimizing surfactant-enhanced subsurface remediation.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 215588
• Journal Information: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation, Journal Name: Ground Water Monitoring and Remediation Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 16; ISSN 1069-3629; ISSN GWMREV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
FORECASTING
GROUND WATER
IN-SITU PROCESSING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NAPHTHALENE
PERFORMANCE
RECYCLING
REMEDIAL ACTION
REMOVAL
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACTANTS
WASTE PROCESSING