US5281257A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for increasing efficiency of vapor phase pollutant removal with on-site regeneration and pollutant recovery
Assignee: Thermatrix Inc
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Filing: 1992-12-11
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Granted: 1994-01-25
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Expires: 2012-12-11
Abstract
Abstract A vapor phase adsorption system employing an adsorbent for removing a volatile organic compound from an air stream to produce a purified air effluent in which the adsorbent first adsorbs the compound and is then regenerated by raising the temperature of the adsorbent to a maximum desorption temperature, which employs an improvement which comprises an unloading compound pre-adsorbed on the adsorbent, wherein the unloading compound is an organic compound having a boiling point greater than that of the volatile organic compound and having an equilibrium loading capacity on the adsorbent at the maximum desorption temperature greater than the equilibrium loading capacity of the volatile organic compound.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/0454; B01J; B01J20/00; B01J20/02; B01J20/20; B01J20/22; B01J20/26; B01J20/30; B01J20/34; B01J20/3416; B01J20/3425; B01J20/3483; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y10; Y10S; Y10S95/00; Y10S95/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for improving efficiency of adsorbent regeneration in a process wherein a volatile organic compound is adsorbed from an air stream into an adsorbent after which adsorbed compounds are removed from said adsorbent by heating said adsorbent to a maximum desorption temperature to provide regenerated adsorbent and said regenerated adsorbent is used to adsorb further amounts of said compound from said air stream, which comprises: pre-loading said adsorbent with an unloading compound, wherein said unloading compound is an organic compound having a boiling point T o higher than the boiling temperature of said volatile organic compound and said unloading compound has an equilibrium loading capacity on said adsorbent at said maximum desorption temperature greater than the equilibrium loading capacity of said volatile organic compound, thereby providing a pre-loaded adsorbent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for improving efficiency of adsorbent regeneration in a process wherein a volatile organic compound is adsorbed from an air stream into an adsorbent after which adsorbed compounds are removed from said adsorbent by heating said adsorbent to a maximum desorption temperature to provide regenerated adsorbent and said regenerated adsorbent is used to adsorb further amounts of said compound from said air stream, which comprises: pre-loading said adsorbent with an unloading compound, wherein said unloading compound is an organic compound having a boiling point T o higher than the boiling temperature of said volatile organic compound and said unloading compound has an equilibrium loading capacity on said adsorbent at said maximum desorption temperature greater than the equilibrium loading capacity of said volatile organic compound, thereby providing a pre-loaded adsorbent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein T o is at least 25° C. above the boiling point of said volatile organic compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adsorbing said organic compound onto said pre-loaded adsorbent by passing said air stream through said adsorbent, thereby providing a loaded adsorbent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of regenerating said pre-loaded adsorbent by heating said loaded in absence of said air stream at a temperature at least 25° C. below T o for a time sufficient to remove adsorbed said volatile organic compound from said loaded adsorbent without removing more than 10% of said unloading compound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a vapor phase adsorption system employing an adsorbent for removing a volatile organic compound from a gas stream to produce a purified effluent in which said adsorbent adsorbs said compound and is then regenerated by raising the temperature of said adsorbent to a maximum desorption temperature, an improvement which comprises: an unloading compound preadsorbed on said adsorbent, wherein said unloading compound is an organic compound having a boiling point greater than that of said volatile organic compound and having an equilibrium loading capacity on said adsorbent at said maximum desorption temperature greater than the equilibrium loading capacity of said volatile organic compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
In a vapor phase adsorption system employing an adsorbent for removing a volatile organic compound from a gas stream to produce a purified effluent in which said adsorbent adsorbs said compound and is then regenerated by raising the temperature of said adsorbent to a maximum desorption temperature, an improvement which comprises: an unloading compound preadsorbed on said adsorbent, wherein said unloading compound is an organic compound having a boiling point greater than that of said volatile organic compound and having an equilibrium loading capacity on said adsorbent at said maximum desorption temperature greater than the equilibrium loading capacity of said volatile organic compound.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The adsorption system of claim 5, wherein said unloading compound has a boiling point at least 50° C. above that of said volatile organic compound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adsorption system of claim 5, wherein said unloading compound is an aromatic hydrocarbon comprising a benzene ring and at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon side chain.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The adsorption system of claim 5, wherein said unloading compound is an optionally unsaturated aliphatic compound having 15 to 40 carbon atom and 0-2 carboxylic or sulfonic acid groups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The adsorption system of claim 5, wherein said volatile organic compound is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an oxygenated hydrocarbon, or an aromatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adsorption system of claim 5, wherein said adsorbent is a microporous carbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The adsorption system of claim 5, wherein said adsorbent is a microporous synthetic polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 5, wherein gas is air and said volatile organic compound is benzene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A self-contained adsorbent canister for use in the system of claim 5, wherein said canister comprises a pressure resistant container, gas inlet and gas exit means adapted to be connected to said system, an adsorbent located in said container, and an unloading compound preloaded on said adsorbent.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-24 | 1997-07-26 | 1998-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-24 | 2001-07-26 | 2002-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-24 | 2005-07-26 | 2006-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |