Dynamic modelling, simulation and theoretical performance analysis of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) abatement systems in the pharma industry

Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) use is extremely widespread in the pharmaceutical industry, posing great risks, as potential organic gas releases are harmful to both environment and human health. Fixed-bed columns containing Activated Carbon (AC) or other adsorbents selectively remove VOCs from gas effluent streams. Nevertheless, adsorbing beds can be quickly and/or irregularly saturated, due to simultaneous and significant variations of flowrates and mixture compositions. This paper presents the development and implementation of a dynamic, non-isothermal adsorption model used for studying binary VOC mixture adsorption on industrial AC beds for a wide variety of structural and operating conditions. A scenario-based investigation of binary mixture behaviour examines (via multiple dynamic simulations, experimental corroboration and predictive formulas) the effect of key parameter changes on bed performance. Theoretical bed performance analysis (employing Glueckauf hodographs) has been employed to provide valuable insight into nonisothermal VOC capture bed operation, for both clean and used beds.