Stripping (chemistry)
Stripping is a physical separation process where one or more components are removed from a liquid stream by a vapor stream. In industrial applications the liquid and vapor streams can have co-current or countercurrent flows. Stripping is usually carried out in either a packed or trayed column.[1]
Theory
Stripping works on the basis of mass transfer. The idea is to make the conditions favorable for the component, A, in the liquid phase to transfer to the vapor phase. This involves a gas-liquid interface that A must cross. The total amount of A that has moved across this boundary can be defined as the flux of A, NA.
Equipment
Stripping is mainly conducted in trayed towers (plate columns) and packed columns, and less often in spray towers, bubble columns, and centrifugal contactors.[1]
Trayed towers consist of a vertical column with liquid flowing in the top and out the bottom. The vapor phase enters in the bottom of th
Variables
The variables and design considerations for strippers are many. Among them are the entering conditions, the degree of recovery of the solute needed, the choice of the stripping agent and its flow, the operating conditions, the number of stages, the heat effects, and the type and size of the equipment.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). The soils are dredged from the bottom of contaminated harbors, mixed with water to make a slurry and then stripped with steam. The cleaned soil and contaminant rich steam mixture are then separated. This process is able to decontaminate soils almost completely.
Steam is also frequently used as a stripping agent for water treatment. Volatile organic compounds are partially soluble in water and because of environmental considerations and regulations, must be removed from groundwater, surface water, and wastewater.[2] These compounds can be present because of industrial, agricultural, and commercial activity.
See also
- Steam distillation
- Distillation
- Theoretical plate
- Continuous distillation
- Fractionating column
- Distillation Design
- Packed bed
References
- ^ a b J.D. Seader and E.J. Henley (2006). Separation Process Principles (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-46480-5.
- ^ J.L. Bravo (1994). "Design steam strippers for water treatment". Chemical Engineering Progress. 90 (12): 56–63. ISSN 0360-7275.
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