(25e) Gas Liquid Mass Transfer of Volatile Organic Contaminants Using Magnetite Nanoparticles

Gas-liquid mass transfer plays a critical role in the removal of volatile organic contaminants from water supplies and wastewaters using various air stripping technologies. However, high air to water ratios needed for removal of contaminants present high expenses for the water processing industry. Nanoparticle sizes are in the range of hydrodynamic boundary layers. Therefore, nanoparticles show potential for higher removal of organic contaminants and enhancement of gas liquid mass transfer due to increased interfacial surface area and turbulence in the boundary layer. The current research examined the effects of magnetite nanoparticles on gas-liquid mass transfer rates in the desorption of trichloroethylene and methyl tert-butyl ether from aqueous solutions. This paper will discuss the effects of different variables such as particle loading, air flow rate, ultrasonication amplitude, and surfactant addition on gas-liquid mass transfer rates of trichloroethylene and methyl tert-butyl ether, in control solutions and in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles.