Removal of VOCs Using Sludge-Based Adsorbents

Abstract

Efficient and cost-effective sludge-based adsorbents were developed and the adsorption of VOCs on the sludge-based adsorbents was studied in a fixed bed reactor. The results indicate that the adsorption of VOCs on sludge-based adsorbents is typical physical adsorption, the dynamic adsorption capacity of VOCs on adsorbents sharply increases as the VOCs concentration is increased at first, then increasing gradually, at last retains stable with the change of VOCs concentration. The dynamic adsorption capacity of sludge-based adsorbents for VOCs is O-Xylene > Butylcetate > Toluene > Ethylacetate > Benzene > Propanone > n-Hexane, the maximum dynamic adsorption capacity is 0.247, 0.225, 0.192, 0.186, 0.180, 0.176, 0.133g/g, respectively. Meanwhile the adsorption of VOCs on sludge-based adsorbents corresponds to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm equations. The sludge-based adsorbent is a low-cost alternative to activated carbon for VOCs treatment, and this technology is a promising method for the VOCs removal.