Removal of Trihalomethanes from Drinking Water by Air Stripping

This study investigated the effectiveness of packed tower to remove trihalomethanes (THMs) from drinking water. The results showed that the removal efficiency of total THMs generally exceeded 90% when temperature was 24°C, water temperature was 25°C, the hydraulic load was 20 m
³
/(m
²
·h) or lower, air-to-water ratio was 60 or greater. Among individual THMs species, the dichloromethane could be removed with the highest removal efficiency, while the tribromomethane with the lowest. Through the economic calculation, the operation cost was 0.0336 CNY/m
³
. The results of this study suggested that the air stripping was simple, highly efficient, cost-effective technology for removing THMs compounds. The volumetric mass transfer coefficients of individual THMs species were achieved according to dynamic analysis and experimental data under different hydraulic load and air-to-water ratio. The calculation of packed tower parameters was also discussed.