Cost analysis of activated carbon versus photocatalytic oxidation for removing organic compounds from indoor air

Abstract

A cost comparison has been conducted of 1 m3/sec indoor air cleaners using granular activated carbon (GAC) versus photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) for treating a steady-state inlet volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration of 0.27 mg/m3. The commercial GAC unit was costed assuming that the inlet VOCs had a reasonable carbon sorption affinity, representative of compounds having four or more atoms (exclusive of hydrogen). A representative model PCO unit for indoor air application was designed and costed, using VOC oxidation rate data reported in the literature for the low inlet concentration assumed here, and using a typical illumination intensity. The analysis shows that, for the assumptions used here, the PCO unit would have an installed cost more than 10 times greater, and an annual cost almost seven times greater, than the GAC unit. It also suggests that PCO costs cannot likely be reduced by a factor greater than 2–4, solely by improvements in the PCO system configuration and reductions in unit component costs. Rather, an improved catalyst having a higher quantum efficiency would be needed, increasing reaction rates and reducing illumination requirements relative to the catalysts reported in the literature. GAC costs would increase significantly if the VOCs to be removed were lighter and more poorly sorbed than assumed in this analysis. © 1998 Air and Waste Management Association.