Recovery of MEK with Polymer Adsorbent

The experimental study was performed to recover the organic solvent, MEK(Methyl Ethyl Ketone), and to examine the effect of experimental variables on adsorption, desorption and recovery by using feed bed column. For this purpose, the polymer adsorbents SP850, which was developed for water treatment was used. From breakthrough experiments with various feed concentrations, isotherms were obtained and the adsorption characteristics of MEK were understood. The recovered amount of MEK was measured under various experimental conditions because the desorption step was the most important step in improving the performance of solvent recovery process. From the experimental results, desorbed amount of MEK was proportional to the purge rate, the temperature of purge gas, and the concentration of adsorbent, while it was inversely proportional to the desorption pressure. Desorption of MEK was accelerated when the wall of adsorption column was heated. It was necessary to apply a vacuum during the desorption step. The recovered amount of MEK was always smaller than the desorbed amount of MEE The capacity of condenser and the temperature of condenser fluid had a great effect on recovery of solvent.