FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods of removing and/or recovery of fluorine-containing surfactants from waste water which contain fluorine-containing polymer particles. The method involves adding a non-fluorinated surfactant to waste water, bringing the treated waste water into contact with adsorbent particles in order to adsorb at least a portion of the fluorine-containing surfactant on the adsorbent particles and separation of the waste water and adsorbent particles and subsequent regeneration of the adsorbent. The adsorbent used is technical carbon, silica gel, clay or zeolite. The non-fluorinated surfactant has the following formula: R1-O-[CH2CH2O]n-[R2O]m-R3, where R1 is an aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing at least 8 carbon atoms; R2 is alkylene containing 3 carbon atoms; R3 is hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl group; n is a value ranging from 0 and 40; m is a value ranging from 0 to 40, where n+m is at least equal to 2. The fluorinated surfactant is preferably a fluorinated acid or its salt, particularly perfluoroaliphatic acid or its salt.
EFFECT: method provides efficient extraction and recovery of fluorinated surfactants from waste water and adsorbent respectively.
8 cl, 1 ex
