TABLE OF CONTENTS John E.Dyksen
Black & Veatch
Oradell, New Jersey
Aeration processes have been used to improve water quality since the earliest days of water treatment. In this process, air and water are brought into intimate contact with each other to transfer volatile substances to or from the water. Aeration processes generally are used in two types of water treatment applications. The first is the removal of a gas from water and is classified as desorption, or air stripping. The second is the transfer of a gas to water and is called gas absorption, or aeration. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has identified air stripping as one of the best-available technologies for the removal of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and radon from contaminated groundwater.
Principal uses for aeration in water treatment include
To reduce the concentration of taste- and odor-causing substances and, to a limited extent, for oxidation of organic matter.
To remove substances that may in some way interfere with or add to the cost of subsequent water treatment. A prime example is removal of carbon dioxide from water for corrosion control and before lime softening.
To add oxygen to water, primarily for oxidation of iron and manganese so that they may be removed by further treatment.
To add ozone or chlorine gas to the water for oxidation and/or disinfection purposes.
To remove gases such as radon, hydrogen sulfide, and methane.
To remove ammonia from the water.
To remove...
