Adsocat: Adsorption/catalytic combustion for VOC and odour control

The concept of concentrating odours by adsorption coupled to desorption and catalytic combustion has been studied. Dilute streams of cyclohexene, thiophene, diethylamine and methyl methacrylate were concentrated by adsorption. For moist gases, activated carbon was found to be the best adsorbent with an adsorption capacity of 1 to 3x10^-3 mol g^-1. Desorption of all adsorbed gases could be achieved by heating to 270°C or above. The catalytic combustion of desorbed gases was examined over Pt, Pd and Rh based catalysts. Of these, the Pd based systems offered the best compromise with all pollutants being destroyed at temperatures below 380°C The combined system is shown to be an efficient means of control of VOCs and odorous pollutants.