Design and Development of Activated Carbon-Based Purification System for Automobile Emissions

Abstract

Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal, is a type of carbon processed to have tiny, low-volume pores that enhance the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. Because of its high degree of micro porosity, one gram of activated carbon has a surface area in surplus of 3,000 m2 (32,000 sq. ft) as determined by gas adsorption. An activation level enough for useful application may be obtained exclusively from high surface area. Further chemical treatment often enhances adsorption properties. Carbon adsorption has a number of applications in eliminating pollutants from air or water streams both in the field and in industrial processes like: ground water remediation, spill clean-up, air purification, drinking water filtration, volatile organic compounds capture from painting, dry cleaning, gasoline dispensing operations, and several other processes. Carbon filtering is a process of filtering that uses a bed of activated carbon to eliminate contaminants and impurities, using chemical adsorption. Activated carbon works through a process called adsorption, whereby pollutant molecules in the fluid to be treated are trapped inside the pore structure of the carbon substrate. Carbon filtering is generally used for water purification, air filtering and industrial gas processing. Distinctive particle sizes that can be removed by carbon filters range from 0.5 to 50 micrometres. The particle size will be used as part of the filter depiction. Lot of efforts are made to reduce the air pollution from petrol and diesel engines and regulations for emission restrictions are also imposed in USA and in a small number of cities of India. A wide-ranging analysis of energy usage and pollution shows that substitute power systems are still a long way behind the conventional ones. Additionally, developments in petrol and diesel engines, combined with improvements in the vehicles, will make fuel consumption reduction of 40% or more in the future cars. This, in turn, will decrease the CO₂ emissions, a gas which is answerable for greenhouse effect.