Process for removing organic and inorganic contaminants from acidified water from which phenol has been removed by employing reverse osmosis

摘要

A reverse osmosis process for treating a phenolic stripped sour water stream containing soluble and insoluble contaminants is provided. Prior to passage through a reverse osmosis membrane, the phenolic stripped sour water stream is cooled, subjected to air flotation and filtered through a sand filtration system to remove insoluble contaminants, and passed through a water softener to remove divalent and trivalent metal cation contaminants. The pH of the stream is adjusted prior to the water softener, and again prior to the reverse osmosis membrane, to stabilize the solubility of soluble organic contaminants present within the stream.