Air stripping is a process that uses forced air to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. With a well-designed system, the purification rate can be very high, leaving mostly clean water behind and trapping the compounds in a pollution control system. Air stripping can be used for a variety of purposes, from industrial processes to environmental cleanup. Stripping system manufacturers offer a wide range of products and accessories.
Air stripping is traditionally done in a tower. At the top of the tower, nozzles spray a mist of water. Air pushes up from below as water droplets fall, moving through the water and picking up VOCs. The contaminants are mostly stripped from the water as it settles to the bottom, and the VOCs can be trapped in a stack at the top of the tower. It is also possible to release them directly into the environment, but this may not be advisable or legal due to the potential for pollution.
Air stripping can be used to remove compounds like acetone and benzene. Cleaning and recycling of components used in a facility is one application of this process. The mostly clean water, as well as the recovered VOCs, can be reused for new processes. By recycling materials as much as possible, this can reduce production costs and pollutants. While the air stripping plant may be costly to set up at first, the company may decide that it will pay for itself in the long run.
This can also be used for water purification and pollution cleanup, such as in the aftermath of oil spills. If air stripping is an option, a temporary facility could be built or water could be transported for scrubbing as part of a pollution cleanup effort. Before being released, the stripped water can go through filters and other purification stages to make it as clean as possible, removing particulates and other undesirable compounds.
When an air stripping system is properly operated and maintained, it performs at its best. The tower may need to be cleaned on a regular basis, and the nozzles may become clogged. To avoid problems like air flow loss due to filter clogs, pollution control systems must be kept in good working order. Regulatory authorities may inspect the tower in some cases to determine if it complies with pollution standards or poses a health and safety risk.