Mass-transfer model of mercury removal from water via microemulsion liquid membranes

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00030a023· OSTI ID:7021999

Larson, K; Raghuraman, B; Wiencek, J ^[1]

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1. Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

A diffusion/reaction model is developed for mercury extraction using a microemulsion liquid membrane. The model incorporates the uniqueness of the mercury-oleic acid chemistry by including the role of oxygen in the surfactant on equilibrium extraction and stripping. Features which distinguish microemulsions from coarse emulsions are also taken into account. The difference is manifested primarily in the emulsion macrodrop size. The Sauter mean diameter determined from photographs ranges from 0.014 to 0.017 mm compared to 0.5--1 mm for coarse emulsion systems. Experimentally determined equilibrium constants and mass-transfer coefficient for the mercury-oleic acid system are used in the model equations. Model simulations show the expected effects of pH and equilibrium constants on extraction kinetics and interior concentration profiles. The model accurately predicts both the initial extraction kinetics and final mercury extraction equilibrium. The good agreement between theory and experiment suggests that the mechanism of extraction using microemulsions is very similar to that of coarse emulsions once the appropriate physical parameters which distinguish microemulsions from coarse emulsions have been incorporated. This is the first model to describe a carrier-mediated microemulsion extraction.

• OSTI ID: 7021999
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States) Vol. 33:6; ISSN IECRED; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
MEMBRANES
MERCURY
METALS
MIXTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SOLUTIONS
SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER