Foam separation of active carbon

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Abstract
An experimental investigation is presented of the foam separation of powdered active carbon, equilibriated with an aqueous, synthetic waste water containing phenol and a cationic (ethylhexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (EHDA‐Br)), anionic (dodecyl sodium sulphate), or non‐ionic (alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanol) surfactant. The effect of surfactant, of pH, of initial carbon concentration, and of initial surfactant concentration on the flotation of carbon is investigated. At pH 3, 7, and 10, the cationic surfactant yields the best flotation of carbon, which increases with increasing pH. At pH 7, a suspension containing 800 mg/1 carbon can be reduced to 24 mg/1 in 10 min. with 0·37 mM EHDA‐Br. The relative concentrations of carbon and of surfactant must be controlled carefully to yield sufficient free surfactant to obtain a foam but not excessive free surfactant to impair the foam separation process. Foam volumes are controlled by free (non‐adsorbed) surfactant.

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