RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON VAPORS FROM VENT-GAS STREAMS

The Department of the Air Force uses large volumes of volatile organic compounds, principally hydrocarbon fuels. As much as 1% of these volatile liquids is lost in vent gases produced during transport, storage, and transfer operations, posing an economic and environmental problem to the DOD. This proposal describes the development of a membrane system to recover and recycle the organic vapors. The recovery system will both save resources and alleviate a serious environmental problem. In the Phase I program, the concept will be evaluated at the bench scale, by modifying an existing membrane vapor separation system. The technical and economic feasibility of the process will be analyzed using the data obtained with this system. In Phase II, a proof-of-concept system will be constructed and operated at one or more DOD sites.