Recover VOCs via adsorption on activated carbon

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Chemical Engineering Progress; (United States)

OSTI ID:6124569

Ruhl, M J ^[1]

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1. Dedert Corp., Olympia Falls, IL (United States). Solvent Recovery Div.

One of the most effective methods of controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is also one of the most economical--adsorption, usually using activated carbon as the adsorbent. This process is cost-effective because it is typically able to recover many VOCs for reuse. A particularly common application of carbon adsorption for VOC control is solvent recovery. In general, solvent recovery via carbon adsorption is a logical consideration for any industrial process exhausting sizable quantities of valuable solvent (subject, of course, to the solvent's suitability for adsorption by activated carbon, as discussed later). The most commonly recovered solvents include toluene; heptane; hexane; carbon tetrachloride; acetone; ethyl acetate; methyl ethyl ketone(MEK); naphthalene; and methylene chloride. Many other solvents are also suitable for recovery by carbon adsorption. A recent CEP article discussed the basics of carbon adsorption and application of the technology to water and wastewater treatment. This article takes an in-depth look at the use of activated carbon adsorption of the control of airborne VOC emissions and solvent recovery. It outlines how to decide if carbon adsorption is suitable for an application and then explains how to implement the technology.

• OSTI ID: 6124569
• Journal Information: Chemical Engineering Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Progress; (United States) Vol. 89:7; ISSN CEPRA8; ISSN 0360-7275
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
CARBON
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MATTER
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PROCESSING
SCRUBBERS
SORPTION
STEAM STRIPPING
VOLATILE MATTER
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER TREATMENT