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Foam columns for countercurrent surface—liquid extraction of surface‐active solutes
Author(s) -
Haas Paul A.,
Johnson H. F.
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690110224
Subject(s) - countercurrent exchange , data scrubbing , stripping (fiber) , sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate , chromatography , sparging , extraction (chemistry) , materials science , foam fractionation , chemistry , waste management , composite material , pulmonary surfactant , thermodynamics , biochemistry , physics , engineering
The foam separation process uses differences in surface activity to separate components of a solution. Stable foams can flow upward countercurrent to liquid to give countercurrent differential separations with stripping, enrichment, or scrubbing similar to solvent extraction. Six‐ and 24‐in. I.D. foam columns were operated with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate solutions to measure height of transfer unit (HTU) values and foam densities and to develop satisfactory gas spargers, liquid feed distributors, foam drainage conditions, and foam condensation equipment. The HTU values for stripping of Sr‐89 were about 1 cm. for the best conditions of uniform foams, liquid flows of 100 gal./sq.ft.hr. or less, and uniform liquid feed distribution with low inlet velocities. Variations of countercurrent column lengths within 10 to 28 cm. caused little variation in HTU values. The foams were condensed, with four types of pneumatic or mechanical foam breakers used. A pilot plant was designed for decontamination of a low level radioactive waste.