(40o) Aging Effect of Bead-Shaped Activated Carbon Exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds

Aging Effect of Bead-shaped Activated
Carbon

Maithri Venkat¹, Prof. Johannes Schwank¹, Dr. Hiroko Ohtani²

¹University of Michigan Ann
Arbor, MI;  ²Ford
Motor Company, Dearborn, MI

Abstract

The
removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC) produced during painting operations
poses significant challenges in the automobile industry.Bead-shaped
Activated Carbon (BAC) adsorption is one of the most efficient methods used for
removing and concentrating VOCs from air.However, the lifetime of
this adsorbent is considerably reduced following
multiple adsorption-regeneration cycles, thereby affecting the economic
feasibility of the process. The research primarily
focuses on a fundamental surface chemistry based investigation to assess the
molecular mechanism for the performance deterioration of activated carbon and to
identify its root cause. As part of these efforts, several VOC
molecules have been analyzed for their adsorption tendencies, temperature programmed
desorption rate, isotherm measurement and microporous
surface area distribution. Furthermore, a systematic study has been conducted
for the evaluation of competitive adsorption, characterization of the surface
morphology using scanning electron microscopy, optimization of adsorption
capability for aged adsorbent and elimination of heel buildup in micropores.

With the
aid of inferences gained from the aforementioned experimental analyses, this
research facilitates the development of an improved VOC abatement operation.

Keywords: Bead-shaped Activated Carbon, heel buildup,
competitive adsorption, aging effect