What is the primary effect of air stripping in water treatment?

What is the primary effect of air stripping in water treatment?

• A. Reducing turbidity
• B. Removing dissolved gases
• C. Eliminating pathogens
• D. Softening water

Answer: (B)

The primary effect of air stripping in water treatment is the removal of dissolved gases. This process involves exposing contaminated water to air, which promotes the transfer of volatile substances from the liquid phase into the gas phase. As bubbles rise through the water, they capture these dissolved gases, which are then released into the atmosphere. Air stripping is particularly effective for removing volatile organic compounds, such as solvents and some gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. This method not only reduces the concentration of these pollutants in the water but often also improves the water's taste and odor by removing unpleasant characteristics associated with these dissolved gases. While aspects such as turbidity reduction, pathogen elimination, and water softening are important in water treatment, they are not the primary focus or effectiveness of air stripping. Turbidity reduction usually involves filtration or sedimentation processes, while pathogen elimination requires disinfection methods like chlorination or UV treatment. Softening water typically involves ion exchange processes to remove hardness-causing minerals, not air stripping.

The primary effect of air stripping in water treatment is the removal of dissolved gases. This process involves exposing contaminated water to air, which promotes the transfer of volatile substances from the liquid phase into the gas phase. As bubbles rise through the water, they capture these dissolved gases, which are then released into the atmosphere.

Air stripping is particularly effective for removing volatile organic compounds, such as solvents and some gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. This method not only reduces the concentration of these pollutants in the water but often also improves the water's taste and odor by removing unpleasant characteristics associated with these dissolved gases.

While aspects such as turbidity reduction, pathogen elimination, and water softening are important in water treatment, they are not the primary focus or effectiveness of air stripping. Turbidity reduction usually involves filtration or sedimentation processes, while pathogen elimination requires disinfection methods like chlorination or UV treatment. Softening water typically involves ion exchange processes to remove hardness-causing minerals, not air stripping.