LANGMUIR-DERIVED EQUATIONS FOR THE PREDICTION OF SOLID ADSORBENT BREAKTHROUGH VOLUMES OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS IN ATMOSPHERIC EMISSION EFFLUENTS

The analysis of dynamic atmospheres containing known concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) has shown the Langmuirian behavior of these chemical species when adsorbed on Tenax GC. Equations for the prediction of breakthrough volumes in mixtures with high VOC concentration and important competitive adsorption effects have been developed. These equations are defined from individual compound parameters such as adsorption capacity, m(max), and distribution coefficient, b. They can also be used to evaluate the correct conditions for the application of other more conventional methods for breakthrough prediction such as the retention volume approach. The lack of dependence of m(max) and b on the gas-phase concentration of the organic species suggests that these are the parameters to take as reference data for the characterization of the adsorption properties of VOC.