Abstract: A regeneratable adsorber for adsorbing adsorbable contaminates from a fluid stream containing same is disclosed. The adsorber includes an adsorber housing in which there is a fluid stream inlet and a fluid stream outlet. The adsorber also includes a plurality of adsorber chambers which are arranged in an indexable wheel configuration. Each chamber includes an electrically conductive adsorbent, such as a monolithic activated carbon, a set of electrical conductors in contact with the adsorbent, and an inlet and outlet. A chamber is either in contact with a source of contaminate fluid or a desorbent fluid used to regenerate the adsorber. The adsorber includes selectively indexed chambers for adsorption or desorption to provide continuous contaminate adsorption and regeneration.

Abstract: An environmentally-safe system and process for recovering solvents and disposing of contaminants released by regeneration of one or more solvent-laden air (SLA) adsorbers. The process begins with regeneration of the carbon in the adsorbers with low-pressure steam, and condensation/cooling of the resulting steam and reclaimed solvent/contaminant mixture. The mixture flows by gravity to a decanter for separation into two layers. From the decanter, the upper solvent-plus-contaminant layer flows to intermediate storage prior to further purification in a liquid extraction unit. The lower water-plus-contaminant layer flows to a water layer tank for further purification in a combined stripping and rectification system and, finally, either to the sewer or to an optional steam regeneration unit. The contaminants released by stripping and rectification are concentrated and then cleanly and essentially completely incinerated in a thermal oxidation system to produce environmentally safe incineration exhaust gases.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from solvent streams, particularly those including water and at least one alcohol, ketone or ester impurity. The process also provides for the recovery of the alcohol, ketone or ester, which can be reused or incinerated. The solvent stream is condensed and initially spearated into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction and a water rich fraction containing the impurities. Impurities are removed from the halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction in a first separation step, preferably liquid-liquid extraction with water. The impurities are extracted from the halogenated hydrocarbons into the water, which is passed to the water fraction of the initial separation step for further treatment. Halogenated hydrocarbons leaving the extraction column are passed to a distillation column where remaining water and impurities are removed. A continuous halogenated hydrocarbon vapor draw is preferably removed and condensed from the distillation column.