Use of a micellar-rich coacervate phase to extract trichloroethylene from water

At temperatures above the "cloud point," aqueous nonionic surfactant micell ar solutions can separate into two phases: a micellar-rich coacervate phase and a dilute phase. Because the coacervate phase is a concentrated micella r solution, organic solute tends to concentrate in the coacervate as a resu lt of solubilization. In this study up to 91% of trichloroethylene (TCE) wa s extracted into the coacervate phase in one stage. The TCE concentration i n the coacervate can be over two orders of magnitude greater than that in t he dilute phase. Increasing temperature, surfactant concentration, and adde d NaCl concentration all improve the fraction of TCE extracted.