Solvent Recovery of 3 Component PSA Experiments and Influence of Water Vapor

When an organic solvent is drained from a factory , the organic solvent adversely affects the human body and the environment. Therefore , we study the adsorption method called the PSA method to collect the disposal gas. Water vapor obstructs the adsorption of an adsorbate and results in gradual deterioration of an adsorbent. We examined how water vapor affects the organic solvent recovery. As a method of removing the organic solvent , we are desired to use adsorption in the chemical field. It is PSA method. Adsorption of PSA depend on pressure , each operation pressure is alternately changed with the high pressure and the low pressure. Accoding to two kind of operation pressure , unit device of PSA is conducted adsorption and desorption at the same time.

In this study , water vapor content in the mixed gas was changed and the behavior of the density of the solvent in the product gas was examined with Stripping reflux PSA unit like Figure.1. As is Figure 1, flow gas repeats alternatively adsorption and desorption inturn in courses and , in each column which filled an adsorbent separate the gas well. CH₂Cl₂ and CCL₄ and water vapor were chosen as an adsorbate. Silica gel (CaRiACT Q-6) was chosen as an adsorbent.The recovery experiment of the organic solvent was conducted by PSA method. And , we tried to optimize the experiment method about Stripping-reflux PSA for solvent recovery by process simulation , named Stop & Go method. Process simulation using this method was able to compare the experimental data. In the same way as experiment, simulation operation sequence of PSA can carry out tentative experiment to process. And , to check how the column is adsorbed , we conducted a study to know the adsorption distribution. Compared with simulation (Stop & Go) , we considered whether there is placticability.

Fig.1 Stripping Re-flux PSA unit