| Abstract: | An experimental and theoretical investigation was undertaken in order to examine the effect of concentration, foam flow rate and feed flow rate on the separation of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate and sodium lauryl sulphate from solutions containing the two surfactants, in stripping and reflux columns. The experimental results indicated the conditions under which a stripping foam fractionation column behaves according to the model of an infinite column. Within the present experimental range reflux columns behaved always according to the model of an infinite column. Using this model it is possible to predict relative separation of surfactants in stripping and reflux columns from experimental data obtained in simple columns. Experiments with modified total reflux columns indicate great potential for batch foam fractionation. |
