Thermodynamic analysis of the theoretical energy consumption in the removal of organic contaminants by physical methods

The essential requirements for evaluating the sustainable development of a system and the thermodynamic framework of the energy conservation mechanism in the waste-removal process are proposed. A thermodynamic method of analysis based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics is suggested as a means to analyze the theoretical energy consumption for the removal of organic contaminants by physical methods. Moreover, the theoretical energy consumption for the removal by physical methods of different kinds of representative organic contaminants with different initial concentrations and amounts is investigated at 298.15 K and 1.01325 × 10⁵ Pa. The results show that the waste treatment process has a high energy consumption and that the theoretical energy consumption for the removal of organic contaminants increases with the decrease of their initial concentrations in aqueous solutions. The theoretical energy consumption for the removal of different organic contaminants varies dramatically. Furthermore, the theoretical energy consumption increases greatly with the increase in the amount to be removed.