Abstract: The removal of phenol from wood vinegar prepared from wild jujube seed shell by using emulsion liquid membrane was studied in this work. Kerosene was used as solvent to prepare emulsion liquid membrane. The effects of processing conditions including kind and concentration of surfactant, concentration of liquid carrier (tributylphosphate, TBP), internal phase concentration and volume ratio of oil phase to internal phase on the stability of the emulsion and the removal of phenol from wood vinegar were investigated and these variables were optimized by response surface methodology for improved removal rate of phenol. The use of 8% (V/V) surfactant T154 and 3% (V/V) TBP, an internal phase concentration (NaOH) of 0.6 mol/L, a volume ratio of oil phase to internal phase of 5:4 (V/V) and emulsification for 20 min with stirring at 4 500 r/min were found to be optimal for good emulsion stability. Under these conditions, the removal rate of phenol from wood vinegar solution was 55.31%.

Key words: emulsion membrane, wood vinegar, purification, breaking rate, removal rate of phenol