Removal of chlorinated organic volatile compounds by gas phase adsorption with activated carbon

This paper discusses the removal of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs) from gas streams by means of fixed-bed adsorption with a commercial activated carbon (AC). Column experiments were performed at different conditions (inlet concentration, temperature, pressure, gas flow rate and bed length). A two-parameter model introduced by Yoon and Nelson was applied to predict the entire breakthrough curves for chloromethane adsorption. Complete regeneration of the exhausted AC was performed at mild conditions (atmospheric pressure and room temperature). In order to gain a better knowledge on the effect of the surface chemistry of AC on the adsorption of Cl-VOCs, the quantum-chemical COSMO-RS method was used to simulate the interactions between AC surface groups and different Cl-VOCs as monochloromethane, dichloromethane and trichloromethane. This information can be useful for tailoring the ACs with the objective of improving their adsorption capacities by further functionalization. To confirm this, the commercial AC tested was modified by means of different thermal and oxidative treatments (nitric acid and ammonium persulfate), being the surface chemistry and textural properties of the resulting materials characterized by different techniques. The modified ACs were then tested in column adsorption experiment with different Cl-VOCs. The uptake of these compounds increased with the basic character of the AC surface.

► Chloromethanes were removed from gas streams by adsorption with commercial activated carbons (ACs).
► Fixed-bed experiments were performed to obtained thermodynamic and kinetic parameters.
► Efficient regeneration of exhausted adsorbent was achieved at mild conditions.
► The influence of AC chemical surface on the process was theoretically and experimentally analyzed.