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U.S. Department of Energy
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Selection of treatment process to meet OCPSF limitations

Journal Article · · Environmental Progress; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670100323· OSTI ID:5656843
 [1];  [2]
  1. Allied Fibers, Hopewell, VA (United States)
  2. United Engineers and Constructors, Philadelphia, PA (United States)

Allied-Signal manufactures phenol, at its plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During this process wastewater is generated which is discharged to a POTW (Publicly Owned Treatment Works). The wastewater discharged has to meet the Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF) pretreatment standard as defined in the US EPA regulations. In order to reduce concentrations of the various waste products, several technologies were evaluated including biological treatment, UV oxidation, and air stripping. Air stripping (or desorption) was initially rejected because it could not remove phenol to the desired level. Phenol has a low volatility which makes it difficult to strip. During the regulatory process, phenol was remanded from the list of OCPSF regulated chemicals. Therefore, air stripping was reevaluated as a treatment alternative. Additional studies showed that air stripping was the most cost effective method for removal of the regulated chemicals as well as a large percentage of the other volatile constituents. A thermal oxidizer was designed to destroy the organic compounds in the vapor stream from the air stripper column.

OSTI ID:
5656843
Journal Information:
Environmental Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Progress; (United States) Vol. 10:3; ISSN ENVPD; ISSN 0278-4491
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English