STEAM STRIPPING FOR REMOVAL OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM WATER .2. VAPOR-LIQUID-EQUILIBRIUM DATA

To support the simple tools for steam stripping presented in part 1, part 2 here discusses the estimation of the infinite-dilution vapor-liquid equilibrium constants K(infinity) for organic pollutants in dilute aqueous solutions. A databank of K(infinity) at 1 atm and 100-degrees-C as well as 25-degrees-C has been established for 404 common organic pollutants. In addition, a correlation of K(infinity) with molecular structure has been formulated. The study also clarifies a concept that the effectiveness of stripping an organic pollutant from water is mainly determined by its hydrophobicity (indicated by its low aqueous solubility) rather than by its pure-component volatility. On the basis of the guideline proposed in part 1, the estimated K(infinity) values reveal that steam stripping is effective in removing hydrophobic (sparingly soluble) pollutants such as paraffins, olefins, aromatics, halogenated hydrocarbons, and compounds with dominant hydrocarbon segments.