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Subject: search.filters.subject.Carbon, Activated

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    Development of a prototype portable adsorption unit for the treatment of toxic chemical spills : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1995) Hynes, Matthew William
    The use of Carbon Adsorption Technology for the development of a Prototype Portable Carbon Adsorption Unit was investigated. Carbon adsorption is a well-established treatment process. It is much safer and more economical in comparison with other conventional neutralisation techniques used for toxic chemical spill clean up. This thesis begins by examining the nature of toxic chemical spills, the effects on the environment and the economy, and the currently available response methods and treatment technologies. The discussion then continues into the use of Carbon Adsorption Technology for the treatment of toxic chemical spills. This is further developed by the conceptual design of a portable adsorption unit. Small scale column experiments were carried out in order to determine the flow configuration to be adopted by the unit. These experiments showed that an upflow configuration had greater potential to increase adsorption efficiency. From the conceptual design stage a full detailed design of the unit was done from which the unit was constructed. The constructed prototype portable adsorption unit was then evaluated by performing a series of adsorption experiments on a single column. The conclusion reached is that Carbon Adsorption Technology can be successfully applied on a small scale for the treatment of toxic chemical spills.
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    Adsorption of pentachlorophenol onto activated carbon in a fixed bed : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Environmental Engineering at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1995) Slaney, Andrew James
    The adsorption of pentachlorophenol (PCP) from water onto granular activated carbon (GAC) was studied. Equilibrium and kinetic behaviour was studied, and the results used to predict fixed bed adsorber behaviour. Batch equilibrium tests showed that the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for PCP is best represented by the Freundlich isotherm, with constants of K = 95 and 1/n = 0.18. Batch adsorption kinetics experiments were conducted in a spinning basket reactor. Surface diffusion and external film transfer coefficients were determined by fitting the homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM) to the experimental batch adsorption data. A surface diffusion coefficient value of 2.26 x 10-9cm/s was calculated using this method, which was similar to surface diffusion coefficients for similar compounds found by other investigators. Using equilibrium and kinetic parameters, the HSDM was used to predict bench scale fixed bed adsorber breakthrough curves at varying flow rates. A correlation was used to calculate the film transfer coefficient. There was a good agreement between the experimental breakthrough curves and those predicted by the model. By varying parameters in the model it was found that the adsorption rate in the PCP-activated carbon system was primarily limited by surface diffusion. The homogeneous surface diffusion model was shown to be effective in predicting breakthrough of PCP and could conceivably be used to predict full scale adsorber performance or to aid pilot plant studies.