Iranian Journal of

Backgrounds and Objectives: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are one of the common groups of contaminants encountered in the industrial activities, emitted through air stream into the atmosphere. To prevent the human and environmental health from the adverse effects of VOCs, air streams containing VOCs need to be treated before discharging to environment. This study was aimed at investigating the catalytic ozonation process for removing xylene from a contaminated air stream.
Materials and Methods: In the present work, a bench scale experimental setup was constructed and used for catalytic ozonation of xylene. The performance of catalytic ozonation process was compared with that of single adsorption and ozonation in removal of several concentration of xylene under the similar experimental conditions.
Results: The results indicated that the efficiency of catalytic ozonation was higher than that of single adsorption and ozonation in removal of xylene. The emerging time and elimination capacity of xylene for inlet concentration of 300 ppm was 1.4 and 5.8 times of those in adsorption system. The activated carbon acted as catalyst in the presence of ozone and thus attaining the synergistic effect for xylene degradation.
Conclusion: catalytic ozonation process is an efficient technique the treatment of air streams containing high concentrations of xylene. The adsorption systems can also be simply retrofitted to catalytic ozonation process and thereby improving their performance for treating VOCs.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background and Objectives:Benzene, toluene and Xylenes (BTX) are organic pollutants, which are mainly associated with oil and its derivatives. BTX is environmental contaminants and considered harmful to human health. Application of surface absorbents such as zeolite is one of several methods for the removal of these compounds. In this study, BTX compounds' removal efficiencies were investigated and compared by using clinoptilolite type zeolite and zeolite with copper oxide nanoparticles.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the modified zeolite by hydrochloric acid in the grain size 1-2 mm and modified zeolite with nano particle of copper oxide were used.  Artificially- Contaminated Air flow was used continuously .To determine BTX concentrations, samplings were done by charcoal tube in current input and output. The concentrations of contaminants were determined by gas chromatography with FID detector.
Results: Removal efficiency of benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene by clinoptilolite were 78.3%, 62.1%, 32.2% 32.15% and 18.8%, respectively. For the clinoptilolite containing copper oxide nano particles efficiency were 25.42%, 35.65%, 36.33%, 33.24% and 29.39%, respectively. Average removal efficiency of BTX compounds observed when the zeolite without nanoparticles used (43.31%) was more than zeolite with nanoparticles (32%). The results showed that the concentration of CO₂ in the outlet air of the zeolite-containing nanoparticle (550 ppm) was more than the zeolite without nanoparticle (525 ppm).
Conclusion: Results showed that adding nanoparticles to the zeolite, although the removal efficiency of benzene and toluene can be reduced. The results showed that adding nanoparticles to the zeolite, although can be reduced removal efficiency of benzene and toluene, which may be due to occupying or blocking of the pollution absorption sites by the nanoparticles on the zeolite, but It cause promote more catalytic effect of zeolite in the decomposition process of contaminants by breaking the molecules of pollutants and their further degradation progress is done for conversion to carbon dioxide

Background and Objectives: Emission of volatile organic compounds and unpleasant smell are the important characteristics of the rendering plant, causing disturbance for the workers and nearby residents. In order to prevent the spread of air pollutants and to provide favorable environment, application of treatment technologies is essential. Materials and Methods: In this study, in order to select suitable collector and ventilation system for rendering plant, air sampling was performed via NIOSH sampling methods (1501, 1300, 1600, and 2002). Totally, 24 air samples were collected from the ambient air, air pollution source, and worker’s breathing zone using two sorbent, activated charcoal and silica gel and were analyzed using GC-MS. Then, the local ventilation system was designed based on the qualification and quantitation analysis of air samples. The stairmand high efficiency cyclone and thermal oxidizer were designed for dust control and gas cleaning respectively. Results: In total, 41 chemical pollutants in exhaust air from rendering plant were identified these compounds included hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, ethers, halogenated compounds, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, and acids. The results of ventilation system designing showed that the system with airflow of 5725 m³/h and a cyclone with the diameter of 1 m and the height of 4 m could remove 50% of particles with 9.45-micron diameter. Gaseous pollutants were removed using thermal oxidation via the consumption of 96 m³/h fuel gas flow. The chamber volume was 6.67 m³. The daily fuel costs were estimated 310000 RLS. Conclusion: Application of local exhaust ventilation system and integrated collectors for control of air pollutants in rendering plant can remove large amounts of particulate and gaseous pollutants. Control of these pollutants can cause loss of smell nuisance and environmental pollution and improving the health and welfare of workers and neighboring residents of such industries.