ADSORPTION OF ACETONE, BUTANOL, AND ETHANOL IN ACTIVATED CARBON AIMING THE SEPARATION OF ORGANICS FROM DILUTED AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Adsorption is a process that has been showing promising results in the recovery of butanol, acetone, and ethanol compounds from the fermentation broth in ABE route, in which butanol is produced by biomass instead of oxo process. In this work, different sources of activated carbon were investigated as adsorbents in diluted aqueous solution of butanol, ethanol, and acetone. The adsorbents were characterized based on particle size distribution. Adsorption tests were conducted in a batch system. Kinetic data indicated a fast adsorption process. The equilibrium data for butanol and acetone were better described by Freundlich isotherm, indicating a reversible process, with weak adsorbate-adsorbent interactions.