Demonstration of pilot-scale pervaporation systems for volatile organic compound removal from a surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation fluid II. Hollow fiber membrane modules

✍ Scribed by Abou-Nemeh, I. ;Majumdar, S. ;Saraf, A. ;Sirkar, K. K. ;Vane, L. M. ;Alvarez, F. R. ;Hitchens, L.

• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 170 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0278-4491
• DOI: 10.1002/ep.670200117

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Pilot‐scale demonstration of pervaporation‐based removal of volatile organic compounds from a surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR) fluid has been conducted at U.S. EPA's Test & Evaluation Facility using hollow fiber membrane modules. The membranes consisted of microporous hydrophobic polypropylene fibers having a thin plasmapolymerized silicone layer on the outside surface. The SEAR fluid was allowed to flow through the fiber bores at 35–45° C, while vacuum was pulled on the shell side. The SEAR fluid was obtained from a pilot‐scale demonstration at Hill Air Force Base, Layton, Utah, and contained trichloroethylene (TCE) at 3,000 mg/L, 1, 1, 1‐trichloroethane (TCA) at 450 mg/L and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) at 400 mg/L along with 2.5 wt % anionic surfactant, 1.5 wt % isopropyl alcohol, 1 wt % salt and a small amount of nonvolatile oil/grease. The hollow fiber modules were run at flow rates of 0.25‐1 gpm for a period of 8‐10 hours every day for a total of six weeks along with a continuous 40‐hour run using the SEAR fluid. The modules were never washed with any fluid. The performance of the hollow fiber modules was stable and satisfactory vis‐à‐vis VOC removal and pressure drop considerations.