Adsorption characteristics and adsorption prediction of binary mixtures (MEK and TOL) on activated carbon and activated carbon with ZnO

In this research, comparing the adsorption characteristics of activated carbon and activated carbon with ZnO were studied. The adsorption characteristics, such as adsorption capacity, adsorption rate constant, isothermal curve, and breakthrough curve for a single adsorbate and binary mixtures on adsorbents were investigated. The modified Wheeler equation, IAST, and Nader Vahdat model were used to predict the breakthrough curves of the binary components (MEK and TOL) from single-component adsorption data. From adsorption tests, the adsorption capacities on AC-ZnO increased by 4 - 6% than the adsorption capacities on AC for a single adsorbate, MEK or toluene, Comparing for the adsorption breakthrough curves of MEK and TOL in the binary system, the breakthrough of the adsorption bed for MEK occurred early. The reason is that MEK is a weak adsorbate in the binary system. When activated carbon was added with ZnO, the total adsorption capacities of adsorbent for VOCs in the binary system were also increased. The breakthrough of the adsorption bed for VOCs on activated carbon occurred slightly earlier than that on activated carbon with ZnO.