Adsorption and desorption characteristics of the representative 10 kinds components consisting of gasoline vapor on activated carbon were investigated at the temperature range of -30℃∼25℃. The breakthrough curves of each vapors obtained by the Thomas model were well described the breakthrough experimental results of this study. The breakthrough times of each vapors were correlated with the molecular weight, density, and vapor pressure. The breakthrough times had greater correlation with boiling point than molecular weight and density. The slope of the breakthrough curve was a proportional relationship with the rate constant (k) of Thomas model expression. The higher the slope of the breakthrough curve, the rate constant was larger. The biggest slope vapor had the smallest adsorption capacity (qe). Adsorption and desorption characteristics of mixed vapor similar to the gasoline vapor were studied at room temperature (25℃). The mixed vapor consisting of 9 components; group A (pentane, hexene, hexane), group B (benzene, toluene), group C (octane, ethylbenzene, xylene, nonane) was examined. Group A was not nearly adsorbed because of substitution by group C, and the desorption capacity of group A was smaller than group C. The adsorbed substances were confirmed to be Group C.

Desorption characteristics of VOCs were investigated for the effective recovery of gasoline vapor. The adsorption capacity and desorption capacity were excellent at relatively low temperatures. The differences in the desorption capacity were not large in the condition; desorption temperature 25℃, desorption pressure 760 mmHg, inlet air flow rate 0.5 L/min, but were relatively great in the condition; desorption temperature 0℃, desorption pressure 60 mmHg, inlet air flow rate 1.0 L/min. The desorption ability of pentane was increased to about 81.4%, and the desorption ability of hexane was increased to about 102%, also the desorption ability of toluene was increased to about 156.7% by changes of temperature, pressure, inlet air flow rate in the experimental conditions. The optimum desorption condition for the effective recovery of VOCs was in the conditions; desorption temperature 0℃, desorption pressure 60 mmHg, inlet air flow rate 1.0 L/min.