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Exploratory studies on batch and continuous foam separation
Author(s) -
Grieves R. B.,
Kelman S.,
Obermann W. R.,
Wood R. K.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450410605
Subject(s) - foam fractionation , effluent , chemistry , mass transfer , volumetric flow rate , chromatography , fractionation , aqueous solution , laboratory flask , pulmonary surfactant , analytical chemistry (journal) , environmental engineering , environmental science , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
Foam fractionation has been employed for inorganic and organic chemical separations, for the treatment of radioactive wastes, and as a tertiary treatment method for secondary sewage effluents. Although the general effect of the basic variables of foam separation has been established, a quantitative approach to the process has not been made. In this study, a fundamental analysis of foam separation as a mass transfer operation is presented, utilizing both equilibrium and rate concepts of mass transfer. Foam separations have been carried out employing aqueous solutions of dodecyl sodium sulphate and alkyl benzene sulphonate at concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 0.14% weight. The range of surfactant concentrations which can be handled under a given set of operating conditions is established. In the batch experiments, volumes and concentrations of the foam and residual bulk phases are presented for nitrogen rates of 200 and 320 cc./min. Flow experiments were carried out using gas rates of 320, 440 and 580 cc./min. and liquid feed rates of about 70 and 100 cc./min. In general, the concentration of the drain stream was relatively insensitive to both gas and feed rates, but the total removal rate was found to be a strong function of gas rate.