VOC removal from nitrogen by a membrane-based combined absorption-stripping process

Author

Boya Xia, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

Fall 1-31-1998

Degree Name

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

Department

Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Environmental Science

First Advisor

Kamalesh K. Sirkar

Second Advisor

Robert G. Luo

Third Advisor

Norman W. Loney

Abstract

A regenerative membrane-based absorption process has been extensively studied to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air/N₂ using silicone oil as absorbent. The absorbent liquid is regenerated by applying vacuum in a membrane-based stripper. In this process, there are no flooding, loading and entrainment, which limit the gas/liquid flow rate in the traditional absorption process. In the present study, attention has been focused on the removal of volatile component(s) from binary gas mixtures such as methanol-N₂, and toluene-N₂, and from a model multicomponent mixture of gasoline vapor constituents and nitrogen. The process performance was tested under three conditions: i) absorption with fresh absorbent; ii) both absorption and stripping modules at the same (room) temperature; iii) maintaining different temperatures in the absorption and stripping modules. Henry's law constants and diffusivities of VOCs in silicone oil have been measured at different temperatures for simulation purpose. The experimental results have been compared with theoretical predictions.

Recommended Citation

Xia, Boya, "VOC removal from nitrogen by a membrane-based combined absorption-stripping process" (1998). Theses. 970.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/970