title: Development of a biphasic electroreactor with a wet scrubbing system for the removal of gaseous benzene.
abstract: An efficient, continuous flow electroreactor system comprising a scrubbing column (for absorption) and a biphasic electroreactor (for degradation) was developed to treat gas streams containing benzene. Initial benzene absorption studies using a continuous flow bubble column containing absorbents like 40% sulfuric acid, 10% silicone oil (3, 5, 10 cSt), or 100% silicone oil showed that 100% silicone oil is the most suitable. A biphasic batch electroreactor based on 50 mL of silicone oil and 100 mL of activated Co(III) (activated electrochemically) in 40% sulfuric acid demonstrated that indirect oxidation of benzene is possible by Co(III). Combined experiments on the wet scrubbing column and biphasic electroreactor (BP-ER) were performed to determine the feasibility of benzene removal, which is reside in the silicone oil medium. In semidynamic scrubbing with BP-ER experiments using an aqueous electroreactor volume of 2 L, and an inlet gas flow and a gaseous benzene concentration were 10 Lmin(-1) and 100 ppm, respectively, benzene removal efficiency is 75% in sustainable way. The trend of CO2 evolution is well correlated with benzene recovery in the BP-ER. The addition of sodiumdodecyl sulfate (SDS) enhanced the recovery of silicone oil without affecting benzene removal. This process is promising for the treatment of high concentrations of gaseous benzene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Sunchon National University , 315 Maegok Dong, Suncheon 540-742, Chonnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Muthuraman
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Govindan
authors.forename: Sang Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hyun-Ho
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jae Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Il-Shik
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005740:Gases / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D012828:Silicones; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D001554:Benzene