VOC removal from contaminated groundwater through membrane pervaporation. (I): Water-1,1,1-trichloroethane system

1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), a common chlorinated organic solvent and volatile organic compound (VOC), was removed from contaminated groundwater by using a bench-scale membrane pervaporation unit. The effects of TCA concentration, temperature, and flow rate on permeation flux and selectivity (a value) of the process were evaluated. In general, higher temperature leads to higher VOC flux but lower selectivity; higher flow rate of TCA feed stream results in higher VOC flux and selectivity, an indication of the effect of concentration polarization; higher TCA feed concentration produces higher TCA permeation, however, the selectivity was virtually unchanged.