Dynamic adsorption of organic solvent vapors on activated carbon

Purpose – to experimentally and theoretically evaluate the dynamics of adsorption of vapors of three organic solvents (acetone, isopropanol, toluene) on activated carbon of class A1 filters, to identify the relationship between the physicochemical properties of the adsorbates and the protective action parameters, and to determine the efficiency of thermal regeneration of the adsorbent.

Methods. Adsorption experiments were carried out on an original fixed-bed setup at an air flow rate of 0.02 L/s, temperature of 24.5°C, and relative humidity of 35%. For each adsorbate, the breakthrough time, mass of adsorbed substance, and volume of purified air were measured. The degree of recovery of adsorption capacity after thermal regeneration (110°C, 1 h) was evaluated. Adsorption isotherms were simulated using the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo method, and isosteric heats of adsorption were calculated.

Results. No direct correlation was found between the mass of adsorbed substance and the breakthrough time. Acetone exhibits the maximum adsorption capacity (0.22 g) but the shortest breakthrough time (240 s) due to its high volatility. Isopropanol provides the longest breakthrough time (780 s) with a lower adsorbed mass (0.18 g) due to the formation of hydrogen bonds. Toluene occupies an intermediate position (363 s, 0.14 g) because of steric constraints. The degree of recovery after regeneration was 82–85%, indicating the presence of an irreversibly bound fraction (15–18%). The simulation confirmed the key role of electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions, as well as the energetic heterogeneity of the carbon framework surface.

Conclusion. The obtained data are important for predicting the service life of carbon filters, selecting the appropriate adsorbent for specific volatile organic compounds, and optimizing thermal regeneration regimes based on the polarity and volatility of the adsorbate.

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