Recovery of phenol from aqueous solutions using hollow fibre contactors

The purpose of this study is to characterise recovery of phenol from an aqueous solution using a hydrophobic polypropylene membrane contactor. The effects of temperature and hydrodynamics on the overall mass transfer coefficient were determined. Integration of the extraction and stripping stages was also carried out thereby allowing removal of more than 99% of the original phenol, while the organic phase is simultaneously regenerated.