Adsorption of styrene monomer on activated carbon.

Styrene is discharged particulary from the factories of styrene resin and synthetic rubber, and it was listed as one of the offensive odor substances by the Offensive Odor Control Law in Japan at 1976. Styrene vapor has stimulating action on eye (STEWART et al. 1968) and membrana of nose and trachea (STEPHENSON & FOSDICK 1960). It has toxic effects on blood cells and liver (KATZ 1962), and nervous system (BOURNE & MILNER 1963). Concentration admissible of styrene in the working environment is restricted within 1.2 ppm at the Soviet Union and Bulgaria, 50 ppm at Japan, or 100 ppm at Great Britain, Western Germany, Switzerland, and America (SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF JAPANESE TRANSLATION OF FOREIGN LITERATURE 1976). In the present work, adsorption isotherms of styrene monomer on activated carbon were obtained at 30~ by the gravimetric method using B.E.T. apparatus with a spring balance in order to find out the activated carbon suitable for the removal of styrene. Relation to exist between the amount adsorbed at equilibrium concentration 4000 ppm and the physicochemical properties such as pH, basic amount, pore volume, and pore size distibution of activated carbon was investigated to elucidate the mechanism of adsorption of styrene on activated carbon.