Adsorption capabilities of adsorbents for selected toxic air pollutants

Author

Richard Michael Vaccaro, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

10-31-1979

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

Joseph W. Bozzelli

Second Advisor

Arthur Greenberg

Third Advisor

Barbara B. Kebbekus

Abstract

The relative adsorption capacities of seven toxic, volatile organic air pollutants of either proven or suspected carcinogenic potential were tested on various adsorbents. Tests were run at flow velocities similar to those set in field sampling. This allows for extrapolation of test results to actual ambient air sampling systems. Experimentation was performed using a gas chromatograph (G.C.) equipped with a flame ionization detector. Sample introduction was carried out using the "displacement method" where the sample is introduced to the adsorbent cartridge as a plug.

Incipient elution volumes (V_N), normalized for bulk adsorbent packing volume, were obtained at various temperatures. Plots were drawn of the In V_N vs. 10³/T (°K) for each adsorbate-adsorbent combination. The plots all show good linearity. From the plots, results indicate that Spherocarb is by far the strongest adsorbent for the volatile organics tested while Tenax is the weakest. XAD-2 is very close to Tenax in retentiveness, but retains CCl₄ at the experimental flow velocity whereas Tenax does not. Porapak-T has adsorption capabilities consistently above Tenax and below Spherocarb, while Silica Gel shows a very strong retention of high boiling and water soluble compounds.

Recommended Citation

Vaccaro, Richard Michael, "Adsorption capabilities of adsorbents for selected toxic air pollutants" (1979). Theses. 2079.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2079