Ozone injection into an activated carbon bed to remove hydrogen sulfide inthe presence of concurrent substances

Adsorption using activated carbon is one of the most reliable techniques fo r preventing odor by substances such as H2S. Concurrent substances in efflu ent gas often reduce the removal capacity of activated carbon for H2S. As a means of restoring capacity under such conditions, ozone injection into an activated carbon column was examined. When activated carbon was saturated with substances such as toluene, ethanol, n-butanol, or iso-butanol, its ca pacity to remove H2S decreased in proportion to the amount of the saturatin g substance. Under such conditions, ozone injection greatly increased capac ity. Toluene, which is not easily decomposed by ozone, was displaced by ozo ne and by oxidized products of H2S. Ethanol, which is adsorbed in small amo unts by activated carbon and easily decomposed by ozone, was removed by ozo ne injection. Butanols, which are also decomposed by ozone and adsorbed in large quantities by activated carbon, showed intermediate behavior between that of toluene and ethanol.