Ecologically, petrochemical wastes constitute a major hazard since waste materials contain relatively large amounts of non-biodegradable and toxic materials which may be discharged continuously. A three-part experimental study of activated carbon adsorption and thermal regeneration has been completed. The project included an experimental pilot plant thermal regeneration study to determine specific thermal regeneration characteristics of selected petrochemical waste materials and a low-pressure thermal investigation. Results of these studies showed: (1) Small polar molecular species, or species highly soluble in water, are resistant to carbon sorption. (2) Extreme acidic or basic waste streams may require pH adjustment to promote carbon sorption. (3) Batch isotherm values provide basic information relative to activated carbon-petrochemical waste column design. (4) Vacuum regeneration of petrochemical saturated activated carbon is effective and efficient. With most sorbent-sorbate combinations tested, the carbon sorbent could be regenerated to 95% of original sorption capacity. (5) Temperature required for carbon regeneration was a function of waste type (composition) and sorption capacity. The report describes experimental methods of differential thermal analysis, vacuum thermal regeneration, isotherm and column derived sorption values, and quantitative relationships of temperature and thermal regeneration response.

Grant no. S800554. Issued May 1978. Report prepared by Department of Civil Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri. Includes bibliographical references (pages 101-103).