Supercritical CO2 regeneration of activated carbon loaded with organic adsorbates

Abstract

Supercritical CO2 regeneration is one of the possibilities for spent carbon regeneration loaded with some organics. Here, adsorption equilibrium and adsorption dynamics were evaluated for some typical organic pollutants under some supercritical CO2 conditions. A supercritical CO2 chromatograph packed with activated carbon (F-400, CAL) was used to detect the pulse responses of organics, which were analyzed by moment analysis. Adsorption equilibrium constants of some organics varied with CO2 density and their boiling points. Possibility of regeneration of each substance was discussed. Cost estimation was necessary and was the key point of this technique.