Volatile organic compounds absorption in packed column: theoretical assessment of water, DEHA and PDMS 50 as absorbents

Pierre-Francois Biard (1) , Annabelle Couvert (1) , Sylvain Giraudet (1)

1 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes

A fixed volume packed column was simulated for the absorption at counter-current of four more or less hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in water and in two heavy organic solvents (PDMS 50, a silicone oil) and DEHA (Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate). Reliable values of the mass-transfer coefficients were deduced allowing to calculate the VOCs removal efficiency. Disappointing performances in heavy solvents, lower than 60% for isopropanol and acetone, were computed in a 3 m height column and using mild conditions (atmospheric pressure and a liquid-to-gas mass flow rate ratio around 2). However, toluene removal efficiencies higher than 90% were simulated. (C) 2017 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.

Keywords: Absorption; Mass-transfer; Volatile organic compound; DEHA; Silicone oil

Domains: Chemical Sciences

Pierre-Francois Biard, Annabelle Couvert, Sylvain Giraudet. Volatile organic compounds absorption in packed column: theoretical assessment of water, DEHA and PDMS 50 as absorbents. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2018, 59, pp.70-78. ⟨10.1016/j.jiec.2017.10.008⟩. ⟨hal-01771099⟩