Method for VOC abatement and paint spray booth incorporating such method

摘要

A VOC (volatile organic compounds) adsorbent material such as an alumino-silicate gel desiccant (10) is treated with a masking agent (13) to reduce its affinity for VOC's to a level that the material can be regenerated at a predetermined low temperature which will not desorb the masking agent (13). The treated adsorbent material is used to adsorb VOC's and is periodically regenerated with heated air. The treated adsorbent material (10) may be used to adsorb VOC's from recirculated spray booth air while spraying a coating on a workpiece (18). Subsequent to spraying, the spray booth air is heated to above the VOC regeneration temperature to regenerate the absorbent material (10) and optionally to cure the applied coating. As the heated spray booth air is circulated through the adsorbent material (10), the previously adsorbed VOC's are desorbed. The desorbed VOC's may be destroyed by oxidizing, for example, with a catalyst (30).