title: The role of beaded activated carbon's pore size distribution on heel formation during cyclic adsorption/desorption of organic vapors.
abstract: The effect of activated carbon's pore size distribution (PSD) on heel formation during adsorption of organic vapors was investigated. Five commercially available beaded activated carbons (BAC) with varying PSDs (30-88% microporous) were investigated. Virgin samples had similar elemental compositions but different PSDs, which allowed for isolating the contribution of carbon's microporosity to heel formation. Heel formation was linearly correlated (R(2)=0.91) with BAC micropore volume; heel for the BAC with the lowest micropore volume was 20% lower than the BAC with the highest micropore volume. Meanwhile, first cycle adsorption capacities and breakthrough times correlated linearly (R(2)=0.87 and 0.93, respectively) with BAC total pore volume. Micropore volume reduction for all BACs confirmed that heel accumulation takes place in the highest energy pores. Overall, these results show that a greater portion of adsorbed species are converted into heel on highly microporous adsorbents due to higher share of high energy adsorption sites in their structure. This differs from mesoporous adsorbents (low microporosity) in which large pores contribute to adsorption but not to heel formation, resulting in longer adsorbent lifetime. Thus, activated carbon with high adsorption capacity and high mesopore fraction is particularly desirable for organic vapor application involving extended adsorption/regeneration cycling.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahandar Lashaki
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Edmonton, AB T6G 2W2, Canada. Electronic address: hashisho@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Zaher
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hashisho
authors.affiliation: Ford Motor Company, Environmental Quality Office, Dearborn, MI 48126, USA.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Ford Motor Company, Research and Advanced Engineering, Dearborn, MI 48121, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Ford Motor Company, Research and Advanced Engineering, Dearborn, MI 48121, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nichols
keywords: Activated carbon; Cyclic adsorption/desorption; Irreversible adsorption; Pore size distribution; Volatile organic compound