LABORATORY-SCALE TESTING OF A CONTINUOUS CLAS PROCESS

The removal of five volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) was evaluated by passing the contaminated water once through a hollow-fiber-membrane m odule that received a countercurrent flow of air recycled from an ultr aviolet (UV) photooxidation chamber. VOC removal was measured experime ntally under a variety of operating conditions. The results compared f avorably with the behavior predicted by a mathematical model of the pr ocess. When operated as a closed-loop process, the photooxidation of t he VOCs in the gas phase has several advantages over conventional air- stripping with off-gas treatment: the end products are reabsorbed back into the water flow; no exhaust gases are released to the atmosphere; and no adsorbent regeneration or disposal costs are incurred.