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Removal of VOCs by Sorption in Fixed Beds of Popcorn
Author(s) -
Mak Vivian W. Y.,
Chatzis Ioannis,
Hudgins Robert R.,
Fayed Muhammad E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450820125
Subject(s) - sorbent , trichloroethylene , sorption , toluene , acetone , activated carbon , inlet , environmental chemistry , volatile organic compound , chemistry , chromatography , gas chromatography , environmental science , adsorption , pulp and paper industry , organic chemistry , engineering , mechanical engineering
Popcorn was the sorbent in a fixed‐bed study on removing VOC contaminants from air. Acetone, toluene, and trichloroethylene were selected as model VOCs to represent industrial solvents with diverse properties. Other variables studied were the inlet VOC concentration and pre‐treatment of the popcorn. Inlet and outlet concentrations were monitored by gas chromatography. The Wheeler equation satisfactorily correlated the breakthrough times of the model VOCs. Because of its low specific surface, popcorn is unlikely to replace activated carbon as a sorbent for VOCs.