It is the first time that the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (
PAH) containing different aromatic rings number [naphthalene (Np), phenanth
rene (Phe), and pyrene (Py)l from combustion hot gas has been carried out.
The aim was to relate the sorbents textural characteristics with the adsorp
tion capacity of these 2-4-ring PAH at the conditions emitted at energy gen
eration. The sorbents textural parameters [total micropore volume (V-N2), n
arrow micropore volume (V-CO2), mesopore volume (V-BJH), and the free activ
e sites] were analyzed trying to correlate them with their Np, Phe, and Py
adsorption capacities. To get this aim, single and multiple linear regressi
ons (MLR) were applied to the three PAH. A principal component analysis was
performed to generate new and uncorrelated variables. It enabled us to sho
w that the relations between the textural parameters were analyzed using a
principal components regression (PCR). The PCR analysis had a good statisti
cal quality, but neither did it allow differentiating free active site type
s nor did VN, and Vco,. The correlations were thus set up applying a MLR to
the original variables The regression statistical quality was similar to t
he PCR analysis, and it could give an easier explanation of the parameters
that affected the adsorption. In Np adsorption, the 87% data variance was e
xplained, and the adsorption was positively correlated to Vco, and the micr
opore mean diameter (L). In the Phe regression there was 98% variance expla
ined, and its adsorption was positively correlated to the VN2 and the micro
pore distribution, n. Finally, in the Py adsorption, the 96% data variance
was explained, and this adsorption was positively correlated to V-N2 and V-
BJH These dependencies were according to the molecular parameters of these
compounds (molecular diameter and volatility) because the higher the number
of aromatic rings of the PAH, the more favored the adsorbate-adsorbate int
eractions. Besides, the higher the mean diameter micropores, the lower the
diffusional problems showed by Np, Phe, and Py.