Method of and apparatus for the recovery of a desired material from a carrier stream

A process for the recovery of gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbons of the type having a boiling point that varies in direct proportion to pressure comprising:

• adsorbing said gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbon on a bed of adsorbent material from a stream of air laden with said gasoline or chlorinated hydrocarbon, the bed further containing an inert, high heat capacity material intimately mixed with said adsorbent material;
• providing an enclosure for said bed;
• heating the interior of said enclosure at substantially atmospheric pressure;
• reducing the pressure in said enclosure while maintaining the temperature in the enclosure above the vaporization temperature at the reduced pressure;
• withdrawing air laden with gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbon vapor from the enclosure while maintaining the temperature in the enclosure;
• and
• subsequently separating the gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbon from the air withdrawn from the enclosure.

Apparatus for recovering gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbons from an air stream containing these materials, said apparatus comprising:

• an enclosed vessel having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit;
• a bed including a mixture of an adsorbent material for gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbons and an inert, high heat capacity material in said vessel between said inlet and outlet conduits;
• pump means communicating with said vessel for selectively withdrawing air and vapor from said vessel;
• first valve means in said inlet conduit for controlling flow of vapor laden air from a source to said inlet conduit;
• second valve means for controlling the flow of air from said vessel to the atmosphere;
• and
• container means for collecting the gasoline or halogenated hydrocarbons after passing through said pump.

A process for the recovery of a solvent from a stream of solvent laden air comprising:

• providing at least one vessel containing a mixture of adsorbent material for said solvent and an inert, high heat capacity material;
• passing a stream of solvent laden air through an inlet conduit into said vessel to selectively adsorb substantially all of said solvent in said mixture, the temperature in said vessel being below the vaporization temperature of said solvent at the pressure maintained therein, the remainder of said air stream passing out of said vessel through an outlet conduit;
• closing said inlet and outlet conduits;
• heating the interior of said vessel at about atmospheric pressure to a temperature below the vaporization temperature of the solvent at atmospheric pressure but above the vaporization temperature of said solvent at a selected lower pressure;
• drawing a vacuum in said vessel to said selected lower pressure, the said high heat capacity material maintaining the temperature of said mixture above the vaporization temperature of the solvent at said selected lower pressure whereby substantially all of the adsorbedt solvent is vaporized from said mixture;
• withdrawing vapors of said solvent from said vessel.