ABSTRACT
The use of polymeric adsorbents, a relatively new waste treatment technique, offers a more desirable alternative to ion exchange. In order to use an adsorbent effectively, it is necessary to elute the adsorbed material. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. Organic acid materials are best adsorbed from an acid solution where they are not ionized and are often eluted well with base, which ionizes the acid. The capacity of the polymeric adsorbent will depend upon the type and concentration of phenolics in the raw waste water and the background concentration of other organics and salts. A high salt background enhances phenol adsorption, probably due to a salting-out effect. Dilute Caustic Regeneration will find the greatest application in situations where direct recycle of a dilute sodium phenolate stream is desirable, or where waste caustic is available. In order to recover the phenol from the sodium salt, a sulfuric acid treatment is recommended if direct recycle is not feasible.
