Experimental and modeled results describing the adsorption of acetone and benzene onto activated carbon fibers

Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Progress; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.670130114· OSTI ID:6797952

Cal, M P; Larson, S M; Rood, M J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)

Activated carbon fibers (ACF) were used to adsorb ppmv concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from laboratory generated gas streams. VOCs considered were benzene and acetone because the VOCs are commonly found in indoor air and have potential to increase health risks to humans. ACF were used as the adsorbent because they typically exhibit higher adsorption capacities and faster adsorption kinetics than commercially available granular activated carbons (GAC) and show potential as an adsorbent to effectively remove VOCs from indoor air. Adsorption models by Dubinin and coworkers (Dubinin, 1975), based on the theory of volume filling of micropores, and an empirical model by Freudlich were used to fit the measured adsorption isotherms. Agreement between the modeled and experimental results for acetone and benzene using the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation generally improved with increasing BET surface area and produced reasonable fits of the adsorption isotherms for both acetone and benzene. The Freundlich equation produced values for correlation coefficients (R) between modeled and experimental data from -.980 to 0.997, indicating the validity of using the Freundlich equation to model the adsorption isotherms over the concentration range of interest. These results indicate that ACF show potential as an adsorbent for removing low concentrations of VOCs from indoor air. 14 refs., 5 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6797952
• Journal Information: Environmental Progress; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Progress; (United States) Vol. 13:1; ISSN 0278-4491; ISSN ENVPDI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACETONE
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION ISOTHERMS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
CARBON
ELEMENTS
FIBERS
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTHERMS
KETONES
MATTER
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TESTING
VOLATILE MATTER