Abstract

In this work, the behavior of n-hexane vapors in the adsorption-desorption cycles of non-functionalized polymeric adsorbents (MN 202 and MN 250) and granular activated carbon (AC 20) was studied. The adsorption experiments were performed in a fixed bed column, under dynamic conditions, at 30?C and atmospheric pressure. The inlet concentration of n-hexane in the air streams was 0.115 mg/cm3 (32500 ppm) and the space velocity was 2.75 s^-1. Also, desorption experiments were performed in dynamic conditions by gas stripping at 120?C. It was observed that the AC 20 losses about 15% of its adsorption capacity for each cycles, while the polymeric adsorbents (MN 250 and MN 202) lose only 5% per cycle. Also, the time required for a complete regeneration of polymeric adsorbents MN 202 and MN 250 was much shorter that for activated carbon AC 20 (40, 60 and 300 minutes, respectively).