A dip-conduit purification apparatus (102) comprises a purification line comprising a plurality of serially coupled purification conduits (124, 126, 128), each of the plurality of purification conduits (124, 126, 128) having an inlet at a first distal end thereof in fluid communication with an outlet at a second distal end thereof.

A promoted activated carbon sorbent is described that is highly effective for the removal of mercury from flue gas streams. The sorbent comprises a new modified carbon form containing reactive forms of halogen and halides. Optional components may be added to increase reactivity and mercury capacity. These may be added directly with the sorbent, or to the flue gas to enhance sorbent performance and/or mercury capture. Mercury removal efficiencies obtained exceed conventional methods. The sorbent can be regenerated and reused. Sorbent treatment and preparation methods are also described. New methods for in-flight preparation, introduction, and control of the active sorbent into the mercury contaminated gas stream are described.

Methods for desorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from beaded activated carbon (BAC) that is loaded with VOCs, during the VOC abatement process using the fluidized carbon bead system include transferring the loaded BAC in an adsorber to a desorber, where a stream of organic solvent passes over the BAC to dissolve at least a portion of the adsorbed VOCs into the organic solvent to regenerate BAC. The regenerated BAC is returned to the adsorber. The organic solvent containing dissolved VOCs may be transferred to a distiller to separate the organic solvents from the dissolved VOCs and may be reused as the organic solvent in the desorber.

A promoted activated carbon sorbent is described that is highly effective for the removal of mercury from flue gas streams. The sorbent comprises a new modified carbon form containing reactive forms of halogen and halides. Optional components may be added to increase reactivity and mercury capacity. These may be added directly with the sorbent, or to the flue gas to enhance sorbent performance and/or mercury capture. Mercury removal efficiencies obtained exceed conventional methods. The sorbent can be regenerated and reused. Sorbent treatment and preparation methods are also described. New methods for in-flight preparation, introduction, and control of the active sorbent into the mercury contaminated gas stream are described.

A method and system for manufacturing and using a self-supporting structure in processing unit for adsorption or catalytic processes. The self-supporting structure has greater than 50% by weight of the active material in the self-supporting structure to provide a foam-geometry structure providing access to the active material. The self-supporting structures, which may be disposed in a processing unit, may be used in swing adsorption processes and other processes to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons.

In alternative aspects, the invention provides processes for cyclic electrochemical adsorption of aqueous contaminants using nanocomposites of graphene with tin oxide or antimony doped tin oxide.

The invention pertains to a process for in-situ regeneration of activated carbon loaded with trihalomethane (THM). Based on the invention, this is achieved with alkaline hydrolysis of the THM with increased temperatures within the activated carbon in halogen-free, good water-soluble, or gaseous compounds. After completion of the chemical hydrolysis treatment, the activated carbon is cleared of reagents and reaction products by rinsing with water and diluted acids, and is then available for reloading in the untreated water flow. During the entire cleaning process, the activated carbon bed must not be moved.

The present invention discloses a method for initiating a graphene oxide (GO) through reduction by a reductant to controllably release organic compounds, comprising the following steps: (1) mixing GO and a buffer solution; (2) further mixing with a sewage containing organic contaminants; (3) conducting solid-liquid separation, mixing the solid phase and the pure, introducing and N.sub.2; (4) further adding the reductant; (5) conducting sequential batch kinetics experiment. The present invention utilizes the size effect and polarity control of GO to selectively adsorb aromatic organic contaminants in sewage and fully transfer the selectively adsorbed organic contaminants from a large amount of sewage to a small amount of pure water by initiating using the reductant, and no extraction of the organic phase is required, the time for purification is reduced, and the energy consumption for purification is also reduced.

Rigid porous polymeric carbon sorbents, including particularly polymeric carbon sorbents for CO.sub.2 capture for flue gas from power plants and for gases from other post combustion CO.sub.2 emission outlets, and methods of making and using same. The porous carbon material can be prepared by heating plastic with an additive. The additive can be selected from metal hydroxide, metal oxalate, metal acetate, metal acetylacetonoate or mixtures thereof. By controlling the preparation, such as the temperature of preparation, the porous carbon sorbent can be controlled to be rigid.

An activated carbon device for adsorbing solvent from a flow of air is regenerated by feeding heated inert gas to the activated carbon and by applying a reduced pressure to the heated activated carbon.