TECHNICAL PAPERS
Feb 19, 2004

Organic Vapor Recovery and Energy Efficiency during Electric Regeneration of an Activated Carbon Fiber Cloth Adsorber

Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 3

Abstract

An electrothermal-swing adsorption system was demonstrated on the bench scale for capture and recovery of organic vapors from air streams. Methyl propyl ketone (MPK), methyl ethyl ketone, n-hexane, acetone, and methylene chloride were removed and recovered at 200-1,020ppmv in a 40.0 slpm air stream while using activated carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) adsorbent. Removal efficiencies were greater than 99.9%. Liquid recovery fractions increased with increasing relative pressure, ranging from 0.11 for methylene chloride (P/Psat=2.1×10-3) to greater than 0.80 for MPK (P/Psat=2.2×10-2). The electrical energy consumed during regeneration per mol of liquid organic compound recovered decreased with increasing relative pressure of the inlet gas stream, ranging from 4,698 kJ/mol for methylene chloride to 327 kJ/mol for MPK. Equilibrium ACFC adsorption capacity, throughput ratio, and length of unused bed were also evaluated. These results are encouraging for the development of a new technology to capture and readily recover a wide range of organic vapors from air streams.

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Published In

Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 130Issue 3March 2004
Pages: 268 - 275

History

Received: Sep 18, 2002
Accepted: Mar 25, 2003
Published online: Feb 19, 2004
Published in print: Mar 2004

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Authors

Affiliations

Katherine D. Dombrowski
Engineer, URS Corporation, 9400 Amberglen Blvd., Austin, TX 78729 (corresponding author); formerly, MS Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
Christopher M. B. Lehmann, A.M.ASCE
PhD Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
Patrick D. Sullivan
Environmental Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/MLQF, 139 Barnes Dr., Suite 2, Tyndall AFB, FL 32403-5323.
David Ramirez
PhD Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
Mark J. Rood, M.ASCE
Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 205 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801 (corresponding author).
K. James Hay
Environmental Engineer, Construction Engineering Research Lab, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2902 Newmark Drive, P.O. Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826.

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