0000000000009080
AUTHOR
Jordi Palau
Coupling Adsorption and Biological Technologies for Multicomponent and Fluctuating Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions Abatement: Laboratory-Scale Evaluation and Full-Scale Implementation
The capacity of activated carbon as a buffer pretreatment combined with biotrickling filtration for volatile organic compound (VOC) removal has been studied. The adsorption capacity of commercial activated carbons for m-xylene, acetone and n-butyl acetate (typical paint solvents) was evaluated, including the response to the interchanging of adsorbed compounds and to mixtures over fluctuating inlet conditions. The adsorption of m-xylene and n-butyl acetate was mainly irreversible and more than three times higher than for acetone. The prior use of activated carbon influenced adsorption and buffer capacities in consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles. The Dubinin–Radushkevich equation was use…
Photodegradation of Toluene, m-Xylene, and n-Butyl Acetate and Their Mixtures over TiO2 Catalyst on Glass Fibers
The abatement of typical paint solvent compounds as individuals and in mixtures was carried out in an annular TiO2 supported reactor, for concentrations up to 900 mg C m–3. Two different fiberglass supports were compared, and the catalyst supported over a fiber mat showed better performance, with a lower pressure drop (>35% of reduction) and a slightly higher removal efficiency (about 2%) than that supported over glass wool. For every target compound in the whole range of relative humidity studied (4–75%), the photocatalytic activity increased with the air water content. The removal of the compounds in the binary and ternary mixtures was depressed, even >90% for toluene, compared with indiv…
Abatement of 3-methylbutanal and trimethylamine with combined plasma and photocatalysis in a continuous planar reactor
International audience; This paper deals with the 3-methylbutanal ((CH3)2CHCH2COH) removal with the help of a nonthermal surface plasma discharge coupled with photocatalysis. The capability of this process for gas treatment was studied. A planar reactor system was developed in order to perform the effect of adding photocatalytic material in plasma surface discharge barrier dielectric (SDBD) zone on (i) 3-methylbutanal removal, (ii) selectivity of CO2 and CO, (iii) byproducts formation such ozone formation. It was found that the influence of the UV light generated by SDBD reactor was very low. The activation of the photocatalyst media could be negligible. Whereas, the introduction of externa…
UV photocatalytic oxidation of paint solvent compounds in air using an annular TiO2-supported reactor
BACKGROUND: One of the most important industrial sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is related to coating and painting applications. In this sense, photocatalytic oxidation can become an innovative and promising alternative for the remediation of air polluted by VOCs. In this study the UV photodegradation of m-xylene, toluene and n-butyl acetate, as representative compounds of paint solvents, was carried out in an annular reactor using a TiO2–glass wool supported catalyst. RESULTS The removal of each component and their mixture, simulating an industrial emission, was evaluated under different operational conditions. A maximum elimination capacity of 12, 18 and 80 mg C m−3 s−1 was …
Comparison between laboratory and pilot biotrickling filtration of air emissions from painting and wood finishing
BACKGROUND: Painting and wood finishing is one industrial sector affected by the European Union environmental regulations on volatile organic compound (VOC) air emissions. The painting process typically results in high flow rates with low VOC concentrations, so biotrickling filtration could be an economical alternative for controlling air emissions. This study analyses the operation of a pilot unit installed in a furniture facility, and compares its performance with the removal efficiency obtained in the laboratory using a synthetic feed composed of n-butyl acetate, toluene and m-xylene to simulate industrial air emissions. RESULTS: Laboratory studies showed that fluctuating and oscillating…
Modeling of a continuous photocatalytic reactor for isovaleraldehyde oxidation: Effect of different operating parameters and chemical degradation pathway
International audience; An investigation of isovaleraldehyde (ISOV) photocatalytic oxidation was conducted at initial concentrations ranging from 25 to 150 mg/m3 and different relative humidities (5-90% RH) in order to characterize the process performances close to indoor air conditions. Experiments were carried out in two different reactors: cylinder and flat-plate photoreactor (planar reactor) at different air gap (20-60 mm) and gas residence times (0.67-5.0 s). A plug flow reactor system was developed in order to perform kinetic studies of (i) isovaleraldehyde removal, (ii) selectivity of CO2, (iii) byproducts formation and removal. It appears that ISOV removal efficiencies increased wit…
Effect of pre-treatments based on UV photocatalysis and photo-oxidation on toluene biofiltration performance
BACKGROUND: The integration of UV photocatalysis and biofiltration seems to be a promising combination of technologies for the removal of hydrophobic and poorly biodegradable air pollutants. The influence of pre-treatments based on UV254 nm photocatalysis and photo-oxidation on the biofiltration of toluene as a target compound was evaluated in a controlled long-term experimental study using different system configurations: a standalone biofilter, a combined UV photocatalytic reactor-biofilter, and a combined UV photo-oxidation reactor (without catalyst)-biofilter. RESULTS: Under the operational conditions used (residence time of 2.7 s and toluene concentrations 600–1200 mg C m−3), relativel…
Performance of a pilot-scale biotrickling filter in controlling the volatile organic compound emissions in a furniture manufacturing facility.
A 0.75-m3 pilot-scale biotrickling filter was run for over 1 yr in a Spanish furniture company to evaluate its performance in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in the emission of two different paint spray booths. The first one was an open front booth used to manually paint furniture, and the second focus was an automatically operated closed booth operated to paint pieces of furniture. In both cases, the VOC emissions were very irregular, with rapid and extreme fluctuations. The pilot plant was operated at an empty bed residence time (EBRT) ranging from 10 to 40 sec, and good removal efficiencies of VOCs were usually obtained. When a buffering activated carbon prefil…
Isovaleraldehyde degradation using UV photocatalytic and dielectric barrier discharge reactors, and their combinations
International audience; The abatement of isovaleraldehyde present in air was carried out in UV photocatalytic and dielectric barrier discharge reactors (and their combinations) for concentrations up to 150 mg C m−3 and air flow rates ranging from 4 to 10 m3 h−1. A kinetic study was performed following a Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. Photocatalytic treatment of an isovaleraldehyde and isovaleric acid mixture showed a clear inhibition of isovaleric acid abatement in presence of isovaleraldehyde. Dielectric barrier discharge treatment of isovaleraldehyde showed an increase of removal efficiency with applied voltage and a decrease with air flow rate and inlet concentration. Moreover, introduction…