Absorption of volatile organic compounds into polydimethylsiloxane

Journal article

Authors/Editors

Muzenda, Edison

Research Areas

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Frascati classification)

Publication Details

Subtitle: Absorption of volatile organic compounds into polydimethylsiloxane

Publisher: World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET)

Publication year: 2011

Volume number: 5

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 2010-376X

eISSN: 2010-3778

Abstract

Group contribution methods such as the UNIFAC are very useful to researchers and engineers involved in synthesis, feasibility studies, design and optimization of separation processes. They can be applied successfully to predict phase equilibrium and excess properties in the development of chemical and separation processes. The main focus of this work was to investigate the possibility of absorbing selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using three selected UNIFAC group contribution methods. Absorption followed by subsequent stripping is the predominant available abatement technology of VOCs from flue gases prior to their release into the atmosphere. The original, modified and effective UNIFAC models were used in this work. The thirteen selected VOCs that have been considered in this research are: pentane, hexane, heptanes, trimethylamine, toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, butyl acetate, diethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone and isobutyl methyl ketone. The computation was done for solute VOC concentration of 8.55×10 -8 which is well in the infinite dilution region. The results obtained in this study compare very well with those published in literature obtained through both measurements and predictions. The phase equilibrium obtained in this study show that PDMS is a good absorbent for the removal of VOCs from contaminated air streams through physical absorption.

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