In this study, adsorption of polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) in transformer oil on powder activated carbon (PAC) and synthetic zeolite was evaluated. Adsorption characteristics of PCBs on the PAC and zeolite has been investigated in a batch system with respect to adsorbents amount and contact time. BET results showed 908 m2/g for PAC and 483 m2/g for zeolite. The adsorption capacity of PCBs increased with an increasing input amount of absorbent. The adsorption experimental results showed that PAC removed 90% of input PCBs in transformer oil while zeolite removed only 64%. Adsorption of PCBs to PAC and zeolite fit the Freundlich model well. The Freundlich parameter, Kf, for PAC and zeolite was 193.1 and 43.0 respectively, indicating that PAC is effect adsorbent for PCBs adsorption in transformer oil.

Toluene desorption of modified activated carbon for microwave irradiation was evaluated. As a virgin GAC reacted from microwave energy, it created an "arcing" between GAC particles in desorption process. The arcing became more and more vigorous and achieved a red flame of GAC. The silica coated GAC(Si/GAC) was developed to prevent arcing phenomenon and temperature control problem. The result shows virgin GAC with 5wt%, 10wt% and 20wt% silica had no arcing and could control temperature very well. However, the adsorption rate of Si/GAC was decreased by coated silica amount due to decreasing surface area of GAC. The 5wt% Si/GAC adsorption rate was quite similar to virgin GAC adsorption rate. After adsorption, the toluene-loaded GAC and Si/GAC was reactivated by 2450MHz MW irradiation with 300W for 5 min. Quantitative desorption of the toluene was achieved at MW irradiation at 300W with desorption efficiencies as high as 98.59% to 84.65%% after four cycles.