Removal of phenol from wastewater by different separation techniques

Application of membrane techniques (pervaporation and membrane-based solvent extraction) and adsorption to the removal of phenol from solutions modelling wastewater from phenol production by cumene oxidation process was investigated. The transport and separation properties of composite membranes PEBA, PERVAP 1060 and PERVAP 1070 in pervaporation of water-phenol mixtures were determined. It was found that the best removal efficiency of phenol was obtained using the PEBA membrane. MTBE, cumene and the mixture of hydrocarbons were applied in the membrane-based phenol extraction. Extra-Flow contactor with Celgard X-30 polypropylene hollow-fiber porous membranes was used in the experiments. MTBE was found the most efficient extractant. Adsorption of phenol on the different Amberlite resins was also investigated. Among the Amberlite resins of various grades used, the Amberlite XAD-4 had the best properties in the phenol removal from the aqueous solutions. It was shown that regeneration of the adsorbent bed could be effectively performed with sodium hydroxide solution.