Volatile Component Removal from Aqueous Solutions: A Methodology for Investigating the Stripping Rate of Ammoniacal Solutions Using Compressed Air

Liquid–vapor equilibrium is a highly relevant topic at every stage of chemical education. In this work we present a new experimental procedure addressing this subject, carried out by a final-year class of an Italian upper secondary school. In particular, the technique investigated is called stripping, which consists of the removal of a volatile component from a solution using a flow of gas. Its low operational costs and simple equipment requirements make this technique widely employed at the industrial level. The proposed procedure allows students to evaluate the effects of solute concentration and solvent type on the rate of the stripping process. The data collected by students were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical model. The activity is designed for students working in pairs and requires a total duration of 6 h. At the end of the experimental work, the results obtained by each group are shared with the entire class, thereby enabling the reconstruction of the expected overall trends.