Abstract

Theoretical and experimental studies have been performed to analyze the flotation processes for recovery of wool wax from an industrial effluent by air flotation. Batch flotation process was carried out at different experimental conditions and different air flow rates. The results obtained show that wool wax can be successfully recovered from the tested effluent using batch air flotation. The percentage of wax recovery increased with increasing the flotation time, that 90% wax recovery was achieved within 10 min. These high recoveries reduce extraction costs. Wax recovery was found to decrease with increasing the initial concentration of wax/water emulsion. The highest percentage recovery of wax was obtained at a column working height approximately eight times the diameter of the flotation column at an emulsion of pH value of 9.0, inlet flow rate 1560 ml/min at a wool-soaping concentration 0.5 g/L. An appropriate kinetic model was identified to represent the behavior of wool wax recovery from an industrial effluent by air flotation.

Key words: Wool wax, recovery, air flotation, industrial effluents.