VOC CONTROL

Regeneration of activated carbon by B. M VAN VLEIT

 Temperature upto 700 deg c
 The rule of thumb guideline of 1 kg of steam per kg of AC has been required for
complete regeneration of spent carbon.

Thermal desorption of VOC from AC by VIOLETA ALEXANDRA ION1 - steam

 Temperature 80 – 120 deg c
 At elevated temperature desorption efficiency increases.

Thermal Regeneration of AC saturated with Nitrate ions

 For Volatile components regeneration can be done with the temperature between 105
to 140 deg c to just shift the adsorption equilibrium – under inert conditions

Regeneration of activated carbon using hot vapors under reduced pressure

 Today all regeneration process are done via thermal swing or pressure swing method.
 Wet activated carbon containing adsorbed VOC is effectively regenerated using solvent
saturated air which is heated (250 to 350 def F) under vacuum
 After significant portion of the adsorbate is desorbed in the heating stage and the carbon
is in 250 def F, a partial vacuum of 250 torr is gradually created in the regeneration
column by throttling the regenerating stream.
 Heating in the air or any sort of oxidizing agent causes some combustion of
activated carbon and corresponding increase in the size of the pores.

Low regeneration temperature and flow rate – Shivaji Ganesan Ramalingam

 Drying is required in case of steam regeneration
 The selection of regeneration temperature is depending upon the heat capacity of the
adsorbent and the boiling point and solvency of adsorbate.
 The regeneration of chloro organic derivatives are very efficient with steam at 140 deg C.
 In each cycle after regenerating at higher temperature will lead to 5 – 14 % of adsorption
capacity. So the regeneration requires low temperature (less than 400 deg c)
 In vacuum regeneration small velocity of nitrogen 0.05 m/s and a pressure of 0.04 bar is
used.
Steam Regeneration of Activated Carbon – 140 deg C
 Regeneration process can be either carried out on the onsite or off site.
 Offsite thermal regeneration uses rotary kilns and furnace.
 Onsite regeneration is usually not cost effective unless the carbon exhaustion rate is over
910 kg per day.
  The more out washing of the adsorbate required at low temperature.

 Pelech et al argued that at temperature T<140 deg C, there will be a certain equilibrium
adsorbed molecules and that in vapor phase.
 For temperature > 140 deg C, the equilibrium is completely shifted to desorption and
only out washing of the adsorbate from the bed occurs.
 The selection of regeneration temperature depends upon the heat

capacity of the adsorbent and the boiling point of adsorbed adsorbate and solvency of
inorganic adsorbate.
 For organic compounds, the regeneration temperature is generally taken 30 – 50 deg C
above the boiling point of adsorbate.

Regeneration of adsorbent spent with VOCs – 160 deg C

 Adsorption of VOC conducted at 20 deg C and desorption was conducted between 80 deg
C and 160 deg C.
 Temperature has a great influence on the regeneration of AC.

The effect of regeneration time of bio mass activated carbon using low
temperature – 200 deg C
 If the activated carbon has long been opened to the air and interacts with the air, the
surface of the activated carbon can bind molecules from the liquid or gas.
 Temperature used in regeneration in 200 deg C.

Understand activated carbon reactivation and low temperature regeneration

technology