Grantee Research Project Results
2004 Progress Report: Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon
EPA Grant Number: R831276C005Subproject: this is subproject number 005 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant CR831276
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar)
Center Director: Ho, Tho C.
Title: Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon
Investigators: Chu, Hsing-wei , Ho, Tho C. , Lin, Jerry
Institution: Lamar University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: December 1, 2003 through November 30, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2003 through November 30, 2004
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (Lamar University) (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) develop a microwave-induced onsite regeneration technology for advancing the activated carbon mercury and volatile organic compound (VOC) control process; and (2) characterize the adsorption efficiency associated with the regenerated activated carbon for continued mercury and VOC sorption. Specifically, the following tasks will be carried out: (1) conduct mercury desorption experiments to determine the dynamic desorption profiles of activated carbon as a function of microwave frequency and energy level, mercury species, sorbent size, and gas flow rate in a stream of air or nitrogen; (2) develop a desorption model considering microwave power input, external mass transfer, internal diffusion, and sorbent sorption capacity to simulate the measured desorption profiles to evaluate key parameters in the model (i.e., the Henry’s Law constant and others); (3) conduct mercury adsorption experiments to characterize the adsorption efficiency associated with the microwave-regenerated activated carbon; (4) develop a corresponding adsorption model based on the desorption model and validate the model by comparing the model predictions with the experimental observations; (5) conduct microwave-induced VOC destruction experiments to characterize the destruction efficiency and destruction byproducts from VOC-loaded activated carbon as a function of microwave frequency and energy level, VOC species, sorbent size, and gas flow rate in a stream of air or nitrogen; (6) conduct VOC adsorption experiments to characterize the adsorption efficiency associated with the microwave-regenerated activated carbon; and (7) accomplish technology transfer through technical reports, publications, presentations, workshops, seminars, and a computer software package development.
Progress Summary:
Steady progress has been made towards the project goals during Year 1 of the investigation. Specifically, the project accomplishments include:
- A thorough literature survey on microwave technology has been conducted and research assistants have been trained to carry out the project, including quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) and safety issues.
- A laboratory microwave power supply unit (Gerling Model# GL117) donated by Dupont has been received. The unit is worth $30,000.
- The experimental facilities for microwave-assisted mercury desorption experiments have been set up in the Cherry Engineering Laboratory 1413.
- Routine mercury desorption experiments currently are being carried out to characterize mercury desorption rates from activated carbon as a function of microwave energy level, mercury concentration, and gas flow rate in a stream nitrogen.
- The proposed mercury desorption model has been developed and several preliminary simulations have been completed.
- The National Science Foundation (NSF)-awarded gas chromatograph/mass spectrophotometer (GC/MS) system (Varian SATURN 2200 GC/MS with 3800GC) has been received. The system will be installed shortly for the Phase II of this project for VOC destruction investigation.
Future Activities:
The project tasks for Year 2 are to continue to conduct mercury desorption experiments emphasizing the dynamic nature of the desorption process as a function of microwave frequency and energy level, mercury species, sorbent size, and gas flow rate in a stream of air or nitrogen. The model simulations also will be performed to compare the simulation results with the experimental observations. After the completion of mercury investigation, the project will start to conduct the microwave-assisted VOC destruction experiments to characterize the destruction efficiency and destruction byproducts from VOC-loaded activated carbon involving the installed GC/MS. Additional activities also will be carried out in Year 2, including the measurement of activated carbon temperature during microwave heating using an infrared thermometer, the measurement and comparison of surface areas of fresh and microwave-applied activated carbon, and the measurement of mercury concentration using an atomic absorption analyzer to confirm that measured by XRF.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other subproject views: | All 3 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Other center views: | All 64 publications | 19 publications in selected types | All 18 journal articles |
Type | Citation | ||
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Ho TC, Kobayashi N, Lee Y, Lin J, Hopper JR. Experimental and kinetic study of mercury adsorption on various activated carbons in a fixed bed adsorber. Environmental Engineering Science 2004;21(1):21-27. |
CR831276 (Final) R831276C005 (2004) R828598 (Final) R828598C697 (Final) |
Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
waste, ecological risk assessment, environmental engineering, hazardous waste, advanced treatment technologies, bioremediation, contaminated waste sites, groundwater contamination, petroleum contaminants, hydrocarbon,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, Chemicals, Analytical Chemistry, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, emission control strategies, hazardous waste treatment, mass spectrometry, emission control technologies, advanced treatment technologies, mercury, mercury emissions, air pollution control, VOC removal, VOCs, gas chromatography, emissions, remediation, airborne metals, activated carbon, microwave destruction technology, air pollution control technology, VOC emission controls, atmospheric mercury chemistry, VOC remediation, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), emissions contol engineering, air emissions, mercury removal, mercury abatement technology, microwave induced regenerationRelevant Websites:
http://dept.lamar.edu/gchsrc/ Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
CR831276 Gulf Coast HSRC (Lamar) Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R831276C001 DNAPL Source Control by Reductive Dechlorination with Fe(II)
R831276C002 Arsenic Removal and Stabilization with Synthesized Pyrite
R831276C003 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C004 Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation
R831276C005 Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon
R831276C006 Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration
R831276C007 Compact Nephelometer System for On-Line Monitoring of Particulate Matter Emissions
R831276C008 Effect of Pitting Corrosion Promoters on the Treatment of Waters Contaminated with a Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Integrated Reductive/Oxidative Processes
R831276C009 Linear Polymer Chain and Bioengineered Chelators for Metals Remediation
R831276C010 Treatment of Perchlorate Contaminated Water Using a Combined Biotic/Abiotic Process
R831276C011 Rapid Determination of Microbial Pathways for Pollutant Degradation
R831276C012 Simulations of the Emission, Transport, Chemistry and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury in the Upper Gulf Coast Region
R831276C013 Reduction of Environmental Impact and Improvement of Intrinsic Security in Unsteady-state
R831276C014 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
R831276C015 Improved Combustion Catalysts for NOx Emission Reduction
R831276C016 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C017 Minimization of Hazardous Ion-Exchange Brine Waste by Biological Treatment of Perchlorate and Nitrate to Allow Brine Recycle
R831276C018 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
1 journal articles for this subproject
Main Center: CR831276
64 publications for this center
18 journal articles for this center