초록 ▼

Aqueous phenolic solutions are separated by pervaporation to yield a phenol-depleted retentate and a phenol-enriched permeate. The separation effect is enhanced by phase segregation into two immiscible phases, “phenol in water”(approximately 10% phenol), and “water in phenol”(approximately 70% pheno

Aqueous phenolic solutions are separated by pervaporation to yield a phenol-depleted retentate and a phenol-enriched permeate. The separation effect is enhanced by phase segregation into two immiscible phases, “phenol in water”(approximately 10% phenol), and “water in phenol”(approximately 70% phenol). Membranes capable of enriching phenols by pervaporation include elastomeric polymers and anion exchange membranes, membrane selection and process design being guided by pervaporation performance and chemical stability towards phenolic solutions. Single- and multiple-stage procresses are disclosed, both for the enrichment of phenols and for purification of water from phenolic contamination.

대표청구항 ▼

A pervaporation method of selectively enriching the phenolic content of the permeate of an aqueous phenolic feed solution without pH adjustment, said phenolic content enrichment of said permeate increasing with decreasing phenolic concentration of said feed solution so as to permit increasing said p

A pervaporation method of selectively enriching the phenolic content of the permeate of an aqueous phenolic feed solution without pH adjustment, said phenolic content enrichment of said permeate increasing with decreasing phenolic concentration of said feed solution so as to permit increasing said phenolic content of said permeate to a phenolic concentration at which natural phase separation spontaneously occurs, said method comprising at least one pervaporation step of forming a vaporized phenol-enriched permeate comprising both phenols and water in a vapor state by (a) contacting the feed side of a nonporous polymeric membrane having a feed side and a permeate side with an aqueous phenol-containing feed stream, said membrane not being degraded by phenols and selected from the group consisting essentially of elastomeric polymers and anion exchange polymers, while (b) maintaining on the permeate side of said membrane either a pressure of 10 mmHg or less or an inert gas sweep stream, whereby phenols in said feed stream preferentially permeate said membrane to form a vaporized phenol-enriched permeate comprising both phenols and water in a vapor state on the permeate side of said membrane, and leaving a phenol-depleted water retentate on the feed side of said membrane.