The balancing of VOC concentration fluctuations by adsorption/desorption process on activated carbon

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mostly toxic and carcinogenic substances. The technologies for cleaning of exhaust gases containing the constant concentrations of VOCs are commercially available. However, if concentration fluctuations occur in the range of several orders of magnitude, it can cause problems for a subsequent gas cleaning e.g. by thermal or catalytic oxidation. The balancing of VOC concentrations in flue gases can be a great simplification of a subsequent reduction of VOC emissions from sources with time-variable concentrations. Paint shops belong to the important sources of VOCs and are an example of periodic processes with time-variable concentrations of VOCs. One of the main aims was to experimentally determine the conditions, such as the minimal mean residence time, to balance out the fluctuations of inlet VOC concentrations at the laboratory model. After that, the verification of obtained results was applied for a real exhaust gas from a paint shop.