VOC REMOVAL FROM AIR FORCE WASTEWATER STREAMS

Many Air Force base operations produce wastewater streams containing dissolved volatile and nonvolatile organics, suspensed solids, emulsified oils, and dissolved metal ions. Discharge of these streams, untreated, to the municipal sewer is increasingly unacceptable. Dissolved volatile organic compunds (VOCs) are the principal problem; their removal would usually make the water dischargeable. MTR is developing a technology that combines air stripping, to remove VOCs from water, with membrane vapor separation, to remove the VOCs from the resulting air stream. In this program, we propose to use a batch jet aeration unit controlled by a microprocessor for the air-stripping step. This unit will be more resistant to fouling by suspended solids and emulsified oils than the packed column aeration system used to date. Also, by adjusting the timing of the aeration cycle, the degree of VOC removal and the volume flow of the stream treated can be controlled. This is important in applications at Air Force bases, where the composition and flow of water to the unit may vary over a wide range. The overall technical feasibility of the approach will be tested in Phase I. A proof-of-concept pilot system will be built and demonstrated in Phase II.