Adsorption of acetic acid and hydrogen sulfide using NaOH impregnated activated carbon for indoor air purification

Shuang Wang, Hoseok Nam, Tesfay Berhe Gebreegziabher, Hyungseok Nam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Excessive exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and acetic acid (CH3COOH) gases is extremely dangerous in a confined space. An effective indoor air pollutant removal porous carbon filter was developed using NaOH impregnated on activated carbon (NaOH/AC) for the adsorption of H2S and CH3COOH. Activated carbon (NaOH/AC) filter was characterized using various methods, indicating good physical and chemical properties (especially -OH functional groups) for the adsorption of air pollutants. The prepared NaOH/AC filter was cured at different curing temperatures and residence times to understand the effect of the curing conditions on the adsorption performance. The best results were obtained with NaOH/AC filter cured at 100°C for 20 minutes as it eliminated the initial concentration of 400 ppm of CH3COOH in 15 minutes and H2S in 30 minutes at 20°C and 60% relative humidity. Isotherm and kinetic models were used to analyze the adsorption process. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic models provided the best fit to the adsorption of CH3COOH and H2S on NaOH/AC filter. The adsorption mechanism was controlled by the intraparticle diffusion combined with film diffusion. The maximum adsorption capacity of NaOH/AC filter was 473 mg/g for H2S adsorption, and 550 mg/g for CH3COOH adsorption. In addition, the spent NaOH/AC filter was regenerated for reuse. This study is expected to develop low-cost and effective porous carbon filter using NaOH-modified activated carbon for indoor air purification.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12083
JournalEngineering Reports
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • activated carbon
  • adsorption
  • CHCOOH
  • HS
  • isotherm
  • kinetic

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