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STRIPPERS

Stripping columns are used to remove unwanted materials from process streams. The
air stripping column shown below is used to remove ammonia from water and waste
water feedstreams.

(Copyright Ducon Technologies, Inc.,

Farmingdale, NY)

AIR STRIPPING COLUMNS

Air stripping columns are most widely used for the removal of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from water. Air stripping columns are designed specifically for a

given application.

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(Copyright Monroe Environmental

Corporation, Monroe, MI)

GENERAL INFORMATION
The design of air stripping columns, such as the ones shown below, is governed by
differences in volatility between the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the
contaminated water.

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(Copyright Monroe Environmental

Corporation, Monroe, MI)

The more volatile components transfer from the water to the air stream. The air
exits
the top of the column and contains the most volatile components, while the least
volatile components exit with the water out the bottom of the column.

EQUIPMENT DESIGN
After the contaminated water enters the column, it flows down the column and
through the packing countercurrent to the air stream. The packing serves to
increase
the amount of contact between the two streams, and enhances the stripping as a
result. After leaving the column, the air is either distributed into the
atmosphere, or
is collected for purification.

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Sieve Tray Air Stripper

Packed Tower Air Stripper
(Copyright Monroe Environmental
Corporation, Monroe, MI)

Air stripping columns contain either trays or packing, depending on the

application.
These trays and packing are the same as those used in distillation and absorption
columns.

Tray types include sieve, valve, and bubble cap. The geometry of the trays affects
the
extent and type of contact between the vapor and liquid streams. Downcomers
channel the liquid flowing from one tray down to the tray below.

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Packing types include dumped packing and stacked packing . The packing channels the

liquid flowing from the top to the bottom of the column.

USAGE EXAMPLES
In the system below on the left, air is used to remove benzene derivatives,
chloroethylenes, and ammonia from contaminated groundwater. On the right is an air

stripping column used to remove VOCs at a potable water treatment plant.

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 (Copyright Monroe
Environmental Corporation, Monroe, MI)

The air stripping columns pictured below are used to remove VOCs and dissolved
gases
from an incoming water feedstream.

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(Copyright Layne Christensen Company, Mission Woods, KS)

The air strippers pictured below are used in a groundwater treatment plant. These
units purify the incoming water through the use of trays rather than packing.

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(Copyright QED Environmental Systems, Dexter,

MI)

ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
VOC removals in excess of 99.99%
Treatment of the exiting VOC laden
are possible with air stripping.
air needed to prevent air pollution.
Air strippers are more economical
Fouling.
when low volatility VOCs are to be
removed.
Capable of achieving very high
removal rates at very low pressure
drops.
Packed air strippers are the most
economical alternative for flows
above 50 gpm.
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STEAM STRIPPING COLUMNS

GENERAL INFORMATION

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Steam strippers are similar to air strippers with one exception: instead of air,
they
use steam to strip volatile components from a liquid stream.

Steam strippers allow for the removal of heavy soluble organic compounds that air
strippers cannot remove. The temperature of these columns is usually very close to

the boiling point of water.

In a typical steam stripping column, the liquid feed is introduced at the top of
the
column and the steam input is located at the bottom. When the liquid enters the
column, it flows down the column and through the packing countercurrent to the
steam. The packing enhances the stripping by increasing the amount of contact
between the two streams. After leaving the column, the vapor is either distributed

into the atmosphere or is collected for purification.

EQUIPMENT DESIGN
Steam stripping columns contain either trays or packing, depending on the
application. These trays and packing are the same as those used in distillation and

absorption columns.

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Tray types include sieve, valve, and bubble cap. The geometry of the trays affects
the
extent and type of contact between the vapor and liquid streams. Downcomers
channel the liquid flowing from one tray down to the tray below.

Packing types include dumped packing and stacked packing . The packing channels the

liquid flowing from the top to the bottom of the column.

The operating pressure of a steam stripper can influence the efficiency and
reliability
of the column. At lower operating pressures, greater volatility and lower operating

temperatures are achieved. Stream strippers operating at vacuum can be expensive

but highly efficient; they allow the use of plastic internals to fight the effects
of
corrosive systems. Operating the column at or near atmospheric pressure results in

higher volatilities and lower operating temperatures without the extra expense of a

vacuum system. At higher operating pressures, the solubility of the solute

increases
and the separation becomes more difficult to perform. Also, at higher pressures,
more
steam input to the column is required for the same separation to occur.

Preheating the feed before it enters the column is important because it reduces the

amount of heat added to the column to achieve the required separation. The feed is

preheated by either a heat recovery exchanger that cross exchanges the feed without

the effluent coming off of the bottoms, a steam heat exchanger that cross exchanges

the feed with a steam stream, or a combination of both.

USAGE EXAMPLES

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Steam stripping columns are most widely used in the recovery of solvents and
solutes,
and also in the removal of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from water.

Steam stripping for wastewater purification is a distillation process where over

99% of
VOCs are removed from water. Some typical VOCs are benzene, toluene, xylenes,
ethyl benzene, styrene, and chlorinated hydrocarbons.

The wastewater feedstream is pre-heated and put in contact with steam in a packed
or tray column. Trays or packing units facilitate contact between the contaminated

water and the steam stream. The combined effects of the steam and heat cause the
organic materials to transfer from the liquid into the vapor phase. As contacting
proceeds down the column, the vapor becomes rich in organic materials while the
wastewater gets cleaner. The organic vapor leaves the column at the top and is
condensed and recovered. These hydrocarbons can be recycled back into the stripper

or treated with an incinerator. The purified water that leaves the bottom of the
column has very low organic contaminate concentrations and it can be recycled back
into the plant's water system.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Capable of achieving very high Not useful to
strip phenol, glycols,
removal rates and low effluent ethylene,
propylene, glycerine,
concentrations. ionic compounds
such as sulfonated
Most economical removal technique organics,
inorganic compounds
at feed concentrations above 0.1% (except in free
gaseous dissolved
weight organics. form), and low
volatility, highly
Can be made very energy efficient water soluble
compounds such as
with heat recovery. acetic acid.
Minimizes air emissions and reduces Fouling.
loads to incineration.
Easy solute recovery.
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