A Novel Process for Recovery of Phenol from Alkaline Wastewater: Laboratory Study and Predesign Cost Estimate

A novel process for recovery of phenol from alkaline wastewater has been demonstrated at laboratory scale. The process is based on the polymer-supported phase-transfer-catalyzed reaction of alkaline phenols with benzoyl chloride dissolved in toluene. The reaction conducted in a triphase system at ro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water environment research 1998-01, Vol.70 (1), p.4-9
Main Authors: Dutta, Narendra N., Borthakur, Somiran, Baruah, Rasna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ABSORPTION
AIR STRIPPING
Applied sciences
BATCH SLURRY REACTIONS
Capital costs
Catalysts
Chloride
Chlorides
Cost estimates
COSTS
Exact sciences and technology
Experiments
FIXED‐BED REACTORS
Industrial wastewaters
MEMBRANE SEPARATION
Operating costs
Payback periods
PHENOL RECOVERY
Phenols
Pollution
Research Papers
Slurries
Slurry reactors
Solvent extraction processes
Solvents
Wastewater
Wastewater treatment
Wastewaters
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:A novel process for recovery of phenol from alkaline wastewater has been demonstrated at laboratory scale. The process is based on the polymer-supported phase-transfer-catalyzed reaction of alkaline phenols with benzoyl chloride dissolved in toluene. The reaction conducted in a triphase system at room temperature generates phenyl benzoate, which is subsequently recovered as the product. Phosphonium ion immobilized on chloromethyl polystyrene crosslinked with divinyl-benzene was used as the catalyst. Laboratory experiments were conducted in a batch slurry reactor and a fixed-bed reactor to assess the suitability of a particular reactor type to practical applications. An aqueous phase to organic phase volume ratio of 1:2 was found to be suitable. The slurry reactor was found to be more attractive for the reaction. Based on the result of experiments in batch slurry reactors and other processing steps, a conceptual flow scheme was proposed for the process, and a predesign cost estimate was made. As such, the treatment cost of the proposed process is higher than that of the usual solvent extraction process, but the capital cost is comparable. However, the cost of the recovered phenyl benzoate will more than offset the higher treatment cost. This is reflected in a payback period of 1.5 years for the proposed process as compared to 2.5 years for the typical solvent extraction process. For industrial applications, a pilot-plant study needs to be performed for a detailed cost analysis.
ISSN:1061-4303
1554-7531
DOI:10.2175/106143098X126838