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Evaluating the Performance of Activated Carbon, Polymeric, and Zeolite Adsorbents for Volatile Organic Compounds Control
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- Author / Creator
- Amdebrhan, Biniyam Tefera
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Activated carbon, zeolites, and polymeric adsorbents are commonly used adsorbents to remove Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial gas streams. To better understand of adsorbents performance for the removal of VOCs, adsorption capacity, cumulative heel and the influence of water vapor on VOCs uptake were investigated. For this purpose, five-cycle adsorption/desorption tests were completed for a single VOC, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene (TMB) and a mixture of VOCs (OAC-SST) using a fixed-bed of Optipore V503, BAC, ZEOcat Z700, ZEOcat F603, and ZEOcat Z400. To assess the effect of humidity on the performance of aforementioned adsorbents during the adsorption of TMB, adsorption experiments were conducted at 0% and 75% relative humidity (RH). The effect of water vapor on the adsorption of polar and non-polar VOCs on ZEOcat Z700 and ZEOcat F603 were measured, and the adsorption experiments were completed for TMB (non-polar) and 2-butoxyethanol (polar) adsorbate, at 0%, 45% and 75% RH. TMB adsorption capacities on Optipore V503 and BAC were 51% and 48%, respectively. Adsorption of OAC-SST on the same adsorbents show adsorption capacities of 45% and 43%, respectively. In case of zeolite, the adsorption capacities of ZEOcat Z700, ZEOcat F603, and Z400 were 16.4%, 10.2% and 2.1% for TMB and 16%, 14%, and 10% for OAC-SST, respectively, demonstrating a lower adsorption performance of zeolites compared to Optipore V503 and BAC. Moreover, cumulative heel buildup with Optipore V503 was noticeably lower compared to the other adsorbents used in this study although V503 was regenerated at 200ºC while BAC and zeolites were regenerated at 288ºC. A maximum of 3% impact of RH on TMB adsorption on BAC and Optipore V503 can be observed at 75% RH due to water vapor’s low affinity towards BAC and Optipore V503. However, there were 31% and 51% decrease in TMB adsorption on ZEOcat Z700 and ZEOcat F603, respectively at 75% RH. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of 2-butoxyethanol on ZEO F603 decreased by 7.5% and 18.0% at 45% RH and 75% RH, respectively. However, the adsorption capacity of 2-butoxyethanol on ZEOcat Z700 decreased by 15.6% and 20.8% at 45 % RH and 75% RH, respectively. The results of this study are helpful for understanding the adsorption performance of adsorbents and their capacities for VOC uptake under different humidity conditions.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2018
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.