A packed column air stripper consists of a cylindrical column that contains a water
distribution system packed with an air distributor. Contaminated water is
distributed at the top of the column and flows down through the packing material.
At the same time, air, introduced at the bottom of the column flows upward
through the packing material. The purpose of the packing material is to provide
greater surface area and impede the flow of both the air and water. As water and
air make contact, volatile organic chemicals are transferred from the water to the
air and are carried up while the clean water passes through the bottom. Once at the
top of the stripper the contaminated air can be sent to another treatment process
and released once the necessary emissions have been met. While at the bottom of
the tank the clean water will generally be released and remain as surface water or
can be pumped down into an aquifer. The material resulted following this process
