Lab-scale adsorption column experiments were performed using steam activated carbon Norit RB3 adsorbent, in order to obtain reliable data about the adsorption of toluene using N2 as carrier gas. The experiments were held at 26 ºC and atmospheric pressure, introducing 0.16 g of a previously sieved adsorbent sample (212-425 µm) into a 10 x 5.4 mm (D x L) glass column. The inlet flow was set constant at 205 mL/min of toluene-N2 mixture, while the concentrations of toluene in the carrier gas ranged 409, 1316 and 2835 mg/m3. The composition of the gas exiting the column was determined by means of gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The correct calibration of the apparatus allowed a subsequent treatment of the data to obtain the breakthrough curve of toluene at the outlet of the column.

Microsoft Excel, 2019