Author(s)

A.S. Elkilani, C.G.J. Baker & W.S. Bouhamra

Abstract

Adsorption/desorption of volatile organic compounds on typical adsorbents A.S. Elkilani, C.G.J. Baker & W.S. Bouhamra Department of Chemical Engineering, Kuwait University, Kuwait Abstract Measurements of adsorption isotherms for three VOCs (toluene, 1,2 dichlorobenzene and 1,1,1 trichloroethane) on three adsorbents, polyacrylonitrile carpet fibers, silica alumina and silica alumina impregnated with KMn04 over the temperature range 2545°C were carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Linear isotherms were observed in all cases with values of the Henry coefficient ranging from 0.01 19 to 0.9407 rnrn. Silica alumina impregnated with KMn04 showed higher adsorption rates compared to silica alumina and polyacrylonitrile fibers. The results of additional experiments carried out in a simple test chamber containing a single source of VOC showed that the adsorbents acted as a significant sink causing a prolonged elevation of VOC concentration in the air within the chamber. There was good agreement

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