Principal Investigator: Joseph P. Gould (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Principal Investigator: Byung R. Kim (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Principal Investigator: Michael A. Rollor (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Principal Investigator: Wendall H. Cross (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Principal Investigator: Makram T. Suidan (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Sponsor: GWRI
Start Date: 1978-11-01; Completion Date: 1982-09-01;
Keywords: carbon, granular activated carbon, regeneration, solvent regeneration, adsorption
Description:
he in situ solvent regeneration of activated carbon by means of organic solvent extraction has been suggested as an economically attractive alternative to thermal regeneration. Therefore, an experimental investigation was performed in order to identify, characterize, and evaluate the important physical-chemical aspects of the solvent regeneration process. Four adsorbates of varying molecular weights and size were employed along with five commercially available activated carbons in a series of continuous flow column studies in order to evaluate the effects of molecular size, regeneration temperature, solvent type and activated carbon characteristics on regeneration efficiency. In addition, the reuse of non-recovered (contaminated) solvent and the corresponding effect upon the economic feasibility of the regeneration process were examined. From the extensive experimental investigations, it was concluded that the important aspects of the solvent regeneration process include:
1) the physical and chemical characteristics of the adsorbent, particularly the pore size distribution and energy of adsorption associated with the activated carbon
2) the degree of solubility of the adsorbate in the organic solvent
3) the miscibility of the organic solvent in water
4) the temperature at which the regeneration is performed.
In addition, the economic feasibility of the process was determined to be directly related to costs incurred for energy requirements and to the recoverability of valuable adsorbates for subsequent reuse in the industrial process.