Foam drainage enhancement in foam fractionation for dye removal: process optimization by Taguchi methodology and grey relational analysis

Abstract

The isolation of dye (methylene blue) by employing a foam fractionation technique with the assistance of a surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) has been dealt with in this paper. This study also incorporated the comparison between contrasted and experimental columns. Taguchi methodology and grey relational analysis techniques were used to ascertain optimal conditions at which the column should be operated to achieve maximum percentage removal and enrichment ratio, for both the columns. The analysis of variance study suggested dye concentration to be the most influencing parameter. The relationship between dye concentration in the bulk phase and the foam phase was also deduced.