Regeneration of a Carbon Adsorber via Humidity Swing Displacement

Activated carbon is a common and effective adsorbent for removal of trace organic compounds from air. Carbon's adsorption capacity for many of these compounds is a strong inverse function of the relative humidity of the air. We have investigated a proposed process for regenerating carbon beds that takes advantage of this effect, in which a reverse flow of high humidity air is used to drive previously adsorbed contaminants out of the bed and into an oxidation system. This paper presents results of our experimental work and its applications to trace contaminant control systems for spacecraft.