Using a Microporous Hollow‐Fiber Membrane to Separate VOCs From Water

The use of microporous polypropylene hollow fibers for separating volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) from water was evaluated. The water was pumped through the lumen of the fibers, and organic‐free air was pumped countercurrently on the outside of the fibers. The rate of VOC removal was modeled on the basis of known empirical correlations, and the experimental data compared favorably with theoretical predictions. The use of a membrane in the air‐stripping process offers several potential advantages over conventional packed‐tower aeration, including a higher overall mass transfer coefficient ( K L a ), a reduced dependence of K L a on gas flow rate, no upper limit on the gas flow rate that can be used, no need for mist elimination, and no need for tall structures.