Effects of elevated relative humidity on passively operated activated carbon load equalization systems for biofilters treating gas-phase toluene

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-1-2005

Abstract

Biofiltration is an attractive treatment option for removal and destruction of VOC found in many air emissions. Results from a series of experiments conducted to evaluate the effect of relative humidity on the degree of load equalization achieved by columns packed with Calgon BPL 4 × 6 mesh activated carbon under intermittent loading conditions where toluene contaminated air was supplied 8 hr/day and uncontaminated air 16 hr/day were described to simulate an industrial process with discontinuous contaminant generation. Experimental testing was conducted for a variety of loading conditions with granular activated carbon column empty bed contact times (EBCT) ranging from 1.5 to 10 sec, influent toluene concentrations as high as 1000 ppm vol, and relative humidity level of 80%. Appreciable load equalization could be accomplished at low EBCT (on the order of a few seconds) even when high relative humidity was present. Implementation of this load equalization approach may facilitate use of smaller, less expensive biofilters, and it had the potential to minimize much of the uncertainty that accompanies biofilter design and operation. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 98th AWMA Annual Conference and Exhibition (Minneapolis, MN 6/21-24/2005).

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition, AWMA

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS