Phenol removal from wastewater by means of nanoporous membrane contactors

A comprehensive mathematical model that takes into account mass and momentum transports was developed to simulate removal of phenol from wastewater by means of porous membrane contactors. The model was based on the hydrophobic porous membranes, in which the organic phase fills the membrane pores in a co-current and counter current liquid-liquid contact. The model was then validated for various aqueous and organic flow rates with the experimental data obtained for phenol removal from aqueous phase using polypropylene membrane. The results showed that increasing aqueous phase flow rates reduces the percentage of phenol separation from aqueous solution. (C) 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.