Performance of a pilot-scale cross-flow rotating packed bed in removing VOCs from waste gas streams

This study investigates the feasibility of applying a pilot-scale cross-flow rotating packed bed (RPB) to absorb volatile organics compounds (VOCs) from waste gas streams. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was used as a model VOC herein. The overall volumetric gas-side mass transfer coefficient (KGa) was determined at various values of operating parameters including rotor speed, gas flow rate and liquid flow rate. The results demonstrated that a cross-flow RPB can yield the KGa values of about 81–165 1/s, corresponding to a removal efficiency of 95% at a gas flow rate ranged from 150 to 300 m3/h, indicating that the mass transfer efficiency of a cross-flow RPB is greater than that of a countercurrent-flow RPB. Consequently, a cross-flow RPB is an effective absorber for removing VOCs from waste gas streams.