Activated carbon adsorption

The adsorption on activated carbon is a non-destructive technology for the treatment of VOCs and odors.

This is a physical process whereby pollutant molecules are retained or trapped on the activated carbon’s solid surface.
 
It is a very simple process whereby the air to be treated is passed through a carbon bed that is designed to absorb pollutants. When the bed becomes saturated, it loses its    absorptive capacity, at which point, the carbon can either be removed and replaced or regenerated with vapor or inert gas, which will also enable the recovery of solvents for reuse in productive processes.
 
Plants using disposable carbon have a lower installation cost, but maintenance costs are higher due to carbon replacements. On the other hand, plants that rely on carbon regeneration have a higher installation cost, however maintenance costs are lower.

The capacity of activated carbon for adsorption to its surface of organic compounds in fluids either liquid or gaseous, passing through a bed made of the said material, is well acknowledged.

Activated carbon regeneration plants or plants relying on activated carbon disposable bed adsorbers may use several systems:

• regeneration by direct steam injection
• indirect vacuum regeneration
• regeneration by inert gas