Competitive adsorption of benzene, toluene and water vapor on super activated carbon nanoparticle

Nano-sized particles exist in nature and they can be formed from various products, which could be carbon or minerals, like silver. Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are required to have at least one dimension with a size of up to 100 nanometers. Most nanoscale materials would be too small to be seen with the naked eye, even with conventional microscopes. ENMs are manufactured to provide improved properties such as increased strength, chemical reactivity or conductivity. ENMs can improve the quality of life and have an outstanding influence on industrial competitiveness. However, there are rising concerns about the effects of these materials on human health and the environment.;This research aimed at quantifying and comparing the adsorption capacities and dynamics of benzene, toluene and water vapor on super activated carbon nanoparticles (SACNPs) using a bench scale adsorption system. In order to evaluate the possible adsorption behavior of SACNPs with water vapor, benzene and toluene, the various adsorption capacities, breakthrough curves, removal efficiencies and throughput ratios were determined. The single component adsorption schemes were also tested and compared with the adsorption mixtures of benzene, toluene and water vapor. Kinetic adsorption analyses were carried out for the mixtures of benzene, toluene and water vapor. It was hypothesized that water vapor in the gas stream reduced the adsorption of benzene and toluene on SACNPs. This study focused on the interactions of benzene and toluene, which are hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) with water vapor using a bench-sale adsorption system.;Water vapor played an important role in the removal efficiency of SACNPs. Toluene had greater adsorption capacity on SACNPs as compared to benzene. Adsorption kinetics analyses showed that the majority of the adsorption experiments followed a second order kinetic adsorption model, with the exception of the adsorption of benzene with 40% RH which fitted best with the first order kinetic adsorption model.