Adsorption of volatile organic compounds in activated carbons

• Grant number: 12/18409-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2012
• End date: November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Aparecido dos Reis Coutinho
• Grantee: Larissa Cristina da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia, Arquitetura e Urbanismo. Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP). Instituto Educacional Piracicabano. Santa Bárbara D'Oeste , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The activated carbon (AC) is one of the most interesting materials and more progress has been presenting currently due to its numerous applications. AC is a type of carbon material composed of a highly porous and has a high specific area. These characteristics confer to the AC the ability to adsorb molecules in the liquid phase and gaseous phase. They are used for water purification, sewage treatment plants, purification of atmospheric air, purifiers in blood in medicine, and many other applications. This project aims to study the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in activated carbons (AC). Will be used to sample a commercial AC produced from coconut shell, and samples of AC produced from natural fibers (jute and sisal). The activities will be carried out in two stages. In the first step will be done in batch adsorption experiments. In the second stage will be made adsorption experiments with continuous flow. The characterization of the AC is performed using the following techniques: immediate analysis, density, determination of porosity and pore size distribution, and especially the determination of the specific surface area. This project will be conducted in the LMC, which has infrastructure, analytical equipment, as well as resources for sample acquisition and other components needed to implement the experimental trials. (AU)