Removal of Low Vapor Pressure Perfluoroalkanes By Activated Carbon

With increased use of highly fluorinated compounds has come an increased need for knowledge of the fundamental properties of these chemicals, such as vapor pressure, to determine how they will behave in the environment and how to remove them.  A modified vapor saturation method was used to measure the ambient temperature vapor pressure of 3-(perfluorobutyl)propanol, (perfluorooctyl)ethylene , perfluorohexanoic acid, ethyl perfluorooctanoate, and perfluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid between 254.15 K and 309.15 K.  The vapor pressure values are then used to generate a feed concentration at 139 PPM.  The adsorption capacity of three of the chemicals on BPL activated carbon.  At low relative humidity 3-(perfluorobutyl)propanol has a greater capacity than ethyl perfluorooctanoate, which has a greater capacity than (perfluorooctyl)ethylene.  At high relative humidity the trend remains the same but the capacities differ.