Enhanced adsorption and regeneration of adsorbents for effective air pollution control and gas separation and purification

吸附再生是控制有机蒸气排放和气流分离纯化的理想方法，因为它允许吸附物的再循环和再利用，因此有助于可持续的工业发展。吸附剂通常通过加热或施加真空来再生。蒸汽和热惰性气体已被广泛用于吸附剂的再生。吸附剂的再生由于其长的持续时间和高的能量需求而成为一个新兴的关注点。最近，微波和电阻加热已经成为更有效的再生技术，因为与蒸汽或惰性气体再生相比，它们的速度更快，效率更高。微波再生也有可能最大限度地减少或消除不可逆的吸附和脚跟积累。调整吸附剂的电（即电阻率）和介电（即损耗因子）性质可以允许吸附剂的更有效和能量有效的再生，并且可以指示吸附剂的饱和或再生程度。 本研究的主要目的是：（1）调整吸附剂的电性能以提高其电阻加热再生能力;（2）调整吸附剂的介电性能以提高其微波再生能力;（3）通过化学处理对吸附剂进行改性以提高吸附剂在吸附和解吸过程中吸附质的负载和去除的监测能力;和4）评估微波和电阻加热用于去除足跟堆积的性能。 这项研究将有助于加拿大的可持续发展，通过更有效地捕获空气污染物排放，降低能源消耗和温室气体排放来改善空气质量。因此，这项研究将使加拿大工业更具竞争力和更环保。它还将有助于在对加拿大具有战略重要性的领域培训高素质的人员，以改善工业活动，同时不损害环境和空气质量。

Adsorption with regeneration is a desirable process for controlling the emissions of organic vapors and separation and purification of gas streams because it allows for the recycle and reuse of the adsorbate hence contributing to sustainable industrial development. Adsorbents are typically regenerated by heating or applying vacuum. Steam and hot inert gas have been widely used for the regeneration of adsorbents. The regeneration of adsorbents has become an emerging concern because of its long duration and high energy requirements. More recently microwave and resistive heating have emerged as more effective regeneration techniques because of their faster rate and higher efficiency compared to regeneration with steam or inert gas. Microwave regeneration has also potential to minimize or eliminate irreversible adsorption and heel buildup. Tailoring the electric (i.e. resistivity) and dielectric (i.e. loss factor) properties of the adsorbent can allow for more effective and energy efficient regeneration of the adsorbent, and can indicate the degree of saturation or regeneration of the adsorbent. The objectives of this research are: tailoring the electric properties of adsorbents to enhance their resistive heating regeneration ability; 2) tailoring the dielectric properties of adsorbents to enhance their microwave regeneration ability; 3) modifying the adsorbents by chemical treatment to enhance monitoring of the adsorbate loading onto and removal from the adsorbent during adsorption and desorption; and 4) evaluating the performance of microwave and resistive heating for the removal of heel buildup. This research will contribute to sustainable development in Canada by improving the air quality through more effective capture of air pollutants emissions, lower energy consumption, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Hence this research will allow Canadian industry to be more competitive and more environmentally friendly. It will also contribute to the training of high quality personnel in areas of strategic importance to Canada to improve industrial activities without compromising the quality of the environment and air.