Methane is easily removed from water due to its slight solubility. What method is most effective for this removal?

Methane is a gas that can pose issues in drinking water systems due to its potential to form flammable mixtures and cause problems in treatment processes. Its removal is important for ensuring water quality and safety.

The method that is most effective for removing methane from water is aeration. Aeration involves the introduction of air into water, which facilitates the transfer of dissolved gases from the water into the air. This method works particularly well for compounds like methane, which has a low solubility in water. By increasing the surface area of the water exposed to air and promoting gas exchange, aeration helps to efficiently strip methane from water.

In the context of the other methods mentioned, air stripping shares similarities with aeration, as it also aims to remove volatile gases from liquids by passing air through the liquid. However, aeration is often more suitable for treating larger volumes of water, while air stripping is typically used in more specialized applications.

Desorption refers to the process of removing a substance that is attached to a surface, which is not the primary mechanism involved in methane removal from water. Similarly, adsorption involves the adhesion of molecules from a gas or liquid to a surface; while it can be used to remove various contaminants, it is not the most efficient for