How does columnar activated carbon achieve oil and gas recovery?

1. Physical adsorption process

Pillarized activated carbon has abundant micropores, mesopores and macropores, which provide a large surface area for the adsorption of oil and gas molecules. When oil and gas enter the columnar activated carbon bed, due to the van der Waals force (also known as London dispersion force) and other weak interaction forces between molecules, the oil and gas molecules will be adsorbed on the surface and pores of the activated carbon.

2. Adsorption equilibrium and adsorption capacity

The adsorption process will reach equilibrium under certain conditions of temperature and pressure, that is, the oil and gas molecules adsorbed by a unit mass of activated carbon reach the maximum value. The adsorption capacity is closely related to the specific surface area, pore size distribution and surface chemical properties of the activated carbon.

3. Desorption process

After the adsorption reaches a certain degree of saturation, the oil and gas adsorbed on the activated carbon need to be desorbed so that the activated carbon can be used again. Common desorption methods are:

• Thermal regeneration: desorb the adsorbed oil and gas molecules by heating.
• Vacuum regeneration: reduce system pressure to volatilize the adsorbate.
• Purge gas regeneration: purge the activated carbon bed with inert gas (such as nitrogen or air) to desorb oil and gas.

These desorption methods are often used in combination to ensure effective adsorption and regeneration cycles.

4. Process flow

The following is a typical process flow diagram of columnar activated carbon for oil and gas recovery:

• Oil and gas collection: Oil and gas in industrial equipment or oil fields enter the oil and gas recovery system through pipelines.
• Pretreatment: pre-treat the oil and gas entering the system, such as removing impurities such as moisture.
• Adsorption tower: The pretreated oil and gas enter the adsorption tower filled with columnar activated carbon. The oil and gas molecules are adsorbed by the activated carbon, and the purified gas is discharged.
• Adsorption saturation: As time goes by, the activated carbon gradually becomes saturated.
• Desorption regeneration: The oil and gas adsorbed on the activated carbon are desorbed by heating, purging, etc., and the desorbed oil and gas are collected and collected.
• Recycling: The activated carbon that has been desorbed and regenerated can be used for adsorption again to achieve continuous operation.

5. Advantages

• The advantages of using columnar activated carbon for oil and gas recovery include:
• Efficient adsorption: Since columnar activated carbon has a large specific surface area and a suitable pore size distribution, its adsorption efficiency is high.
• Renewability: Activated carbon can be used multiple times through the regeneration process, reducing operating costs.
• Environmental protection: By effectively recovering oil and gas, the emission of harmful gases is reduced and the environment is protected.
• Wide application: Columnar activated carbon is suitable for various types of oil and gas recovery, such as oil and gas recovery in petrochemical plants, refineries, and gas stations.