BATCH FOAM FRACTIONATION OF SURFACTANTS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Andrej Šonc and Viktor Grilc
National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract
Surfactants represent a striking problem in water resources. Foam fractionation enables both defoaming and concentration of surfactants. Foam fractionation process is controled by many process and material parameters that are: airflow rate, foam column geometry, feed concentration and added salt. Optimal conditions were tested on a real sample from industry. A mathematical model that describes the changes in concentration of surfactants along the column was developed.

Key words: foam fractionation, surfactants and wastewaters