Capture of Organic Vapors Using Adsorption and Electrothermal Regeneration
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 3
Abstract
Activated-carbon-fiber cloth (ACFC) is an alternative adsorbent to granular activated carbon (GAC) for removing and recovering organic vapors from gas streams. Electrothermal desorption (ED) of ACFC provides rapid regeneration while requiring less energy compared to traditional regeneration techniques used with GAC. This paper provides proof-of-concept results from a bench-scale ACFC adsorption system. The automated system captured 1,000 ppmv of hazardous air pollutants/volatile organic compounds (HAPs/VOCs) from air streams and demonstrated the use of ED, using ac voltage, to recover the HAP/VOC as a pure liquid. The desorbed HAP/VOC condensed onto the inner walls of the adsorber and was collected at the bottom of the vessel, without the use of ancillary cooling. Seventy percent of the HAP/VOC was collected per cycle as condensate, with the balance being retained in the regenerated adsorber or recycled to the second adsorber. ED with in-vessel condensation results in minimal consumption and short regeneration cycle times allowing the process to be cost competitive with conventional GAC-based adsorption processes. This technology extends the application of carbon adsorption systems to situations that were previously economically and physically impractical.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130 • Issue 3 • March 2004
Pages: 258 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 20, 2002
Accepted: Apr 23, 2003
Published online: Feb 19, 2004
Published in print: Mar 2004
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