Integrated or Combined System Configuation
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2-Bed Adsorption Concept

Integrated System

Introduction: Biofiltration for VOC control is best operated at steady loads of contaminants. In order to provide long-term stable operation of a biofilter under adverse contaminant feeding conditions, a 2-fixed bed adsorption system involving a 2-step cycle, i.e., adsorption and desorption, was proposed in this study. The Figure above shows a typical two-bed with 2-step cycle used in this study. Each step includes the feeding phase (adsorption) and the purging phase (desorption). Purging functions as regeneration.

Objective: The feasibility of adsorption/desorption cycle for stabilizing biofilter performance fluctuation was investigated. The 2-bed adsorption unit was packed with granular activated carbon and connected to the biofilter unit in series for stabilizing the feed concentration to the biofilter.

Conclusion and Summary : The net effect of the 2-bed adsorption was an attenuation of the VOC concentration that makes it amenable for biofiltration. It was concluded in this study that the 2-step cycle in 2-bed adsorption could serve successfully as a polishing unit to abate the initial acclimation for the biofilter, a buffering unit to damp the biofilter performance fluctuation during the square wave change of toluene inlet concentration, and a feeding source for the biofilter without any feeding phase when the biofilter is exposed to non-use periods. Results also demonstrate that integrated treatment scheme of a biofilter preceded by a 2-bed adsorption unit attained higher biological activity for toluene biodegradation; and extended, stable operation of highly efficient removal with dynamic toluene loadings.

 

Publications and Conferences of the Integrated or Combined System for Removal of VOCs

 

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G.A., “Determination of Gas Phase Adsorption Isotherms- A Simple Constant Volume Method,” Chemosphere, 2006, 64(8), 1362-1368.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “A Novel Integrated Scheme for Stabilizing Biological Oxidation Process Performance in Treating Waste Gas Streams,” Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technologies, 2007, 10(1).

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G.A., Shin, H., and Knaebal, K., “Integrated Treatment Scheme of a Biofilter Preceded by a 2-Bed Adsorption Unit Treating Dynamic Toluene Loading,” Chemical Engineering Journal, 2007, 130(1), 45-52.

PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Feasibility of Adsorption/Desorption Cycles in a Two-Bed Adsorption Unit for Dampening Biofilter Performance Fluctuation,” in proceedings of 98 th A&WMA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 21-24, 2005.

Kim, D. Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Cyclic Operation of Two Fixed Beds Adsorption Systems as Load Equilization for Air Biofiltration System,” in proceedings of the 99 th A&WMA Annual Meeting, to be held in New Orleans, LA, June 20-23, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., “Integrated Cyclic Two Bed Adsorption and TBAB for VOC Emission Control,” in proceedings of the 2 nd International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Houston, Texas, August 19-22, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., “Effective Control of Gaseous VOC Mixture in a TBAB Coupled with Cyclic Adsorption/Desorption Beds,” in proceedings of 2006 USC-TRG Conference on Biofiltration for Air Pollution Control, Long Beech, California, October 18-20, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., “Integrated Cyclic Adsorption/Desorption Beds and Biofiltration for Effective Control of VOCs,” in proceedings for the 37 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference, Cincinnati, OH, March 21-23, 2007.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Feasibility of Adsorption/Desorption Cycles in a Two-Bed Adsorption Unit for Dampening Biofilter Performance Fluctuation,” presented at the 98 th A&WMA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Minneapolis , Minnesota , June 21-24, 2005 .

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G.A., Comparative Study of Gas Phase Adsorption of Volatile Organic Compounds on Two Types of Activated Carbon, the 227 th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition, Anaheim, California, March 28-April 1, 2004

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Integrated 2-Bed Adsorption System and Biofiltration for Treatment of Waste Gas Streams,” presented at the 230 th ACS National Meeting, held in Washington D.C., August 28- September 1, 2005.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Role of Adsorption and Desorption Cycles in a 2-Bed Adsorber in Stabilizing Biofiltration Performance,” presented at AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 30-November 4, 2005.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Rhodes, R., Sorial, G.A, Treatment of VOCs Emitted from a Wastewater Treatment Plant by a Hybrid Process Scheme of a 2-Bed Adsorber and a Biofilter, the 2005 Ohio Water Environment Association Annual Conference, Columbus, Ohio, June 21, 2005.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G.A., A Novel Integrated Scheme for Stabilizing Biological Oxidation Process Performance in Treating Waste Gas Streams, the 11th International Conference on Advanced Oxidation Technologies for Treatment of Water, Air, and Soil, Chicago, IL October 23-27, 2005.)

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G.A., Role of Adsorption and Desorption Cycles in a 2-Bed Adsorber in Stabilizing Biofiltration Performance, the AIChE 2005 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. October 30-November 4.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G.A., Cyclic Operation of Two Fixed-Beds Adsorption System as Load Equilization for Air Biofiltration System, presented at A&WMA’s 99 th Annual Conference & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA June 20-23, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., Treatment of VOCs Mixture in a Trickling Bed Air Biofilter Integrated with Cyclic Adsorption/Desorption Beds, presented at A&WMA’s 99 th Annual Conference & Exhibition, New Orleans, LA June 20-23, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., “Integrated Cyclic Two Bed Adsorption and TBAB for VOC Emission Control,” presented at the 2 nd International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Houston, Texas, August 19-22, 2006 ).

Sorial, G.A., “Biofiltration Technology for Effective Control of Air Emissions,” presented at the Plenary Meeting of the 2 nd International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology, Houston, Texas, August 19-22, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., “Effective Control of Gaseous VOC Mixture in a TBAB Coupled with Cyclic Adsorption/Desorption Beds,” presented at the 2006 USC-TRG Conference on Biofiltration for Air Pollution Control, Long Beech, California, October 18-20, 2006.

Cai, Z. and Sorial, G.A., “Integrated Cyclic Adsorption/Desorption Beds and Biofiltration for Effective Control of VOCs,” accepted for presentation at the 37 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial and Hazardous Waste Conference, Cincinnati, OH, March 21-23, 2007.

Ph.D. DISSERTATIONS

Kim, D., “Development of Integrated Scheme of Adsorption and Biofilter for VOCs Control,” Ph.D. Dissertation, 2006, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA. (Presentation Slides)

Cai, Z., "Integrated Cyclic Adsorption/Desorption Beds and Biofiltration System for Treatment of Waste Gas Streams, " Ph.D. Dissertation, 2007, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA. (Presentation Slides)

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