In this research, the integrated adsorption/air-stripping process was studied and optimized to intensify the treatment of the wastewater produced by the alcohol recovery unit of the butyl acetate production plant. Activated carbon adsorption and air stripping processes were combined in a batch reactor for this purpose. RSM based on BBD statistical algorithm was applied to determine the optimal operating conditions. The efects of fve independent process variables including residence time, activated carbon dosage, temperature, initial COD and sparging fowrate on COD removal were investigated. The maximum COD removal of 92% was obtained at the residence time of 1.14 h, activated carbon mass of 14.91 g, the temperature of 59.87 ◦C, the sparging fow rate of 1.44 L/min, and initial COD concentration of 10,053.46 mg/L. Sensitivity analysis results showed that initial COD of the liquor and temperature had the greatest efects on the separation performance of the combined process. Moreover, the binary interaction terms presented negligible infuences (totally less than 4%) on the response. Based on the results, removal capacity and removal rate ofered by the integrated process exceed those presented by the individual separation operations. Accordingly, integration of adsorption and air stripping process is a straightforward and efcient alternative for the treatment of alcohol recovery wastewater efuents.
