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Title: Solvent extraction of phenols from water

Conference · · AIChE Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6321408

Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and diisopropyl ether (DIPE) were evaluated as solvents for extraction of phenols from water by measuring the equilibrium distribution coefficients (K/sub d/) as a function of pH for phenol, dihydroxybenzenes, and trihydroxybenzenes at 25/sup 0/C. MIBK gave much higher K/sub d/ values than DIPE, particularly for the polyhydric phenols, so that solvent-to-water mass flow ratios (S/W) exceeding 0.14 and 0.39 would be required at low pH for effective removal of di- and trihydric phenols, respectively, with MIBK, compared with S/W greater than or equal to 1.4 and 8, respectively, for DIPE. The effect of pH was described by a simple ionization model. In the phenol/water/MIBK system, K/sub d/ values increased with decreasing temperature (30 to 75/sup 0/C) at all concentrations, and at 30/sup 0/C, they were high enough for the effective extraction of phenol contained at up to 20% by wt in the organic phase. Vacuum steam stripping was the best choice for the removal of residual dissolved MIBK. Extraction with MIBK may thus be used to recover, rather than degrade, phenols contained in aqueous streams from refining, petrochemical, and coal conversion processes.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Berkeley
OSTI ID:
6321408
Report Number(s):
CONF-800610-
Journal Information:
AIChE Pap.; (United States), Vol. 58A; Conference: American Institute of Chemical Engineers conference, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 8 Jun 1980
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English