Continuous Foam Fractionation of Phosphate by a Cationic Surfactant

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Abstract
Continuous foam fractionation experiments in one equilibrium stage were performed using ethylhexadecyldimethylammonium bromide and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. The pH of the solution was maintained at 5.4 at which only H2PO4- was present. The effects of surfactant and phosphate concentrations and liquid and gas flow rates on the percent stripping of phosphate and the distribution factor of phosphate were studied. Equilibria between surface and bulk liquid phases were found to be adequate to explain the inverse relationship between the distribution factor of phosphate and the phosphate and surfactant concentrations. For optimum separation of phosphate, defined as percent stripping, [100(cf — cw)/cf], low liquid and high gas flow rates must be used with dilute solutions of both surfactant and phosphate. Further, multiple equilibrium stages should be employed.