Volatile organic compounds absorption in a cross-flow rotating packed bed.

A cross-flow rotating packed bed (RPB) process was evaluated for its absorption of some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into water, including isopropyl alcohol, acetone, and ethyl acetate. The experimental results showed that the mass transfer coefficient (KGa) increased with increasing rotational speed, liquid rate, and gas rate, and thus an empirical correlation of KGa was proposed for the cross-flow RPB for the first time. It was found thatthis correlation could reasonably estimate our experimental KGa data as well as those reported in literatures. Although the mass transfer coefficient was lower than that in a countercurrent-flow RPB, a cross-flow RPB is believed to be capable of handling a higher gas rate because of its flow pattern.