A bench-scale carbon adsorption system was constructed to examine the effects of relative humidity and compound interaction on the adsorption of specific components of mineral oil vapor by activated carbon. Small beds of activated carbon were challenged with single and binary component vapor at low and high relative humidities (less than 13 percent and greater than 87 percent). The components consisted of undecane and dodecane at nominal concentrations of 4 ppm each. High relative humidity and compound interaction substantially reduced the carbon's adsorption capacity for both compounds, however, the effect of the latter was more pronounced on the adsorption of undecane versus dodecane. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of the carbon for the single and binary component vapor at high relative humidity was approximately 0.20 grams of vapor per gram of carbon. This adsorption capacity was 24 to 28percent of the capacities quoted by the carbon vendor for similar compounds.Master of Science in Environmental Engineerin
