Butane extraction of model organic pollutants from water.

In this study, n-butane (n-C(4)H(10)), a by-product of the oil refining process, was used as the extractant to remove various model organic pollutants including halogenated hydrocarbons, phenols and aromatic compounds from aqueous matrices. The presence of salt, inorganic acid and dissolved organic materials in the aqueous matrix were found to have little influence on the removal efficiency. High removal efficiencies are readily achievable for a great number of organic pollutants. The removal efficiencies for hydrophobic pollutants were greater than 90% for a single stripping stage for pollutants with a distribution constants (K(D)) greater than 45 and for a n-butane to aqueous phase ratio of 1-5. Results were also reported for the removal of residual butane in treated effluent by combinations of depressurization, air stripping and elevating operating temperature.