FILTERS FOR ACETONE REMOVAL FROM AIR STREAM AT PPM AND PPB LEVELS

摘要

The presence of volatile carbonyl containing contaminants, such as acetone, in indoor and cabin air environments is of great concern due to their hazardous health effects. The removal of acetone at ppm and ppb levels is still a challenge to many researchers around the world. Several samples of zeolites and activated carbons adsorbents of various origins were used in this study. The initial samples were modified by impregnation and chemical modifications using several approaches. The surface of the carbon samples was characterized using sorption of nitrogen and Boehm titrations. Acetone breakthrough curves were collected at typical high purity concentrations using flame ionization detectors (FID). The curves were converted into efficiency as well as capacity curves where the total capacity of each adsorbent was calculated. Activated carbons showed higher efficiency than zeolites for acetone. The volume of small micropores ( < 10A) determined the capacity of adsorbents toward acetone removal where the adsorption potential is the strongest. Although impregnants were expected to enhance acetone uptake, they showed the reverse effect. By modifying the surface chemistry, enhanced uptake was achieved by increasing the hydrogen bonding characteristics of the adsorbent surface.