Clean technology for acetone absorption and recovery

This paper concerns the removal of acetone from air by absorption in water in a packed column and recovery of acetone from water by pervaporation from its dilute aqueous solution. The measurements were carried out in a labora tory scale absorption column and a laboratory scale pervaporation unit. The absorption with Sulzer-packing was a suitable process for the removal of a cetone vapours: a satisfactory removal efficiency was achieved. Using a CMG OM-10 pervaparation membrane from Celfa high fluxes and separation factors were obtained for the removal of acetone from water. Models were formulate d to determine the most effective operating parameters which minimize the c osts. According to the experiments and calculations the proposed absorption -pervaporation system can be technically feasible and economically attracti ve method for vapour absorption and recovery. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.