AWWA JAW56687

In the past 15 years, air-stripping's efficacy and low cost have made the technology a popular method for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated groundwater. Despite the technology's widespread use, little attention has focused on the selection of the packed media, even though VOC removals in air-stripping towers primarily depend on the column's packing material. This research studied a number of structured and random packing materials to evaluate their performance under identical operating conditions. The various packing materials performed quite differently in terms of VOC removal and pressure drop. Thus, the optimal design for an individual packing material will feature air-strippers of a specified dimension and operating conditions tailored for the selected packing material. Using the extensive database generated by this study, designers of treatment processes can optimize air-stripping performance by choosing the liquid loadings and air-to-water ratios based on the particular packing used. This article's findings should help lead to more economical air-stripping operations and ensure that future designs meet the prescribed VOC removal levels. Includes 28 references, tables, figures.