Adsorbents for dioxins: A new technique for sorbent screening for low-volatile organics

Dioxins are generated in all waste incinerators, and activated carbon has b een used since 1991 as the adsorbent. However, no equilibrium adsorption in formation is available because no experimental technique has been developed for measuring adsorption for such low-volatile organic compounds at the lo w concentrations that are of interest (i.e., parts per trillion to parts pe r billion levels). A new technique based on temperature-programmed desorpti on is developed for quick screening of sorbents and for determination of th e activation energy for desorption. This information is used further for es timating the equilibrium isotherm. Twelve sorbents are screened for dioxin (nonchloro form) adsorption, and the equilibrium isotherms are estimated.