The principal use of vapor phase activated
carbon in the environmental field
is for the removal of volatile org a n i c
compounds such as hydrocarbons, solvents,
toxic gases and organic based
odors. In addition, chemically impre gnated
activated carbons can be used to
c o n t rol certain inorganic pollutants such
as hydrogen sulfide, merc u ry, or radon.
When properly applied, the adsorption
process will remove pollutants for
which it is designed, to virtually nondetectable
levels. In fact one of the first
l a rge- scale uses of activated carbon
was in military gas masks where complete
contaminant removal is essential.
Carbon adsorption is equally eff e c t i v e
on single component emissions as well
as complex mixtures of pollutants.
In the industrial area, the most common
applications of activated carbon
a re for process off-gases, tank vent
emissions, work area air purification,
and odor control, either within the
plant or related to plant exhausts.
A d d i t i o n a l l y, activated carbon is used in
the hazardous waste remediation are a
to treat off-gases from air strippers and
f rom soil vapor extraction re m e d i a t i o n
p ro j e c t s