Volatile organic compound removal by membrane gas stripping using electro-spun nanofiber membrane

Removal of volatile organic compound (chloroform) from water was carried out by membrane gas stripping using electro-spun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofiber membrane. It was shown that the process was feasible. The overall mass transfer coefficient of chloroform through the nanofiber membrane was found to be 2 × 10− 5 m/s at room temperature, which was more than the highest value obtained earlier for a hollow fiber air-stripping system. The activation energy of the mass transfer coefficient was almost the same as that of the Henry constant for chloroform absorption in water. It was therefore concluded that the chloroform desorption from water was the governing factor of the system.

► High porous, high hydrophobic PVDF nanofiber membrane was prepared. Its contact angle over 120°.
► VOCs can be removed by membrane air-stripping as the membrane's high hydrophobicity and pore size.
► Overall mass transfer coefficient is 3 × 10− 5 m/s. It is higher than hollow-fiber membrane system.