| abstract |
A process for removing volatile vapor solvents, particularly from paint-spray booths and paint dryers, and recovering such solvents, which process comprises: intimately contacting the solvent-laden air with a multiphase scrubbing media, particularly a water stream containing an oil-in-water emulsion or a surfactant or a powdered activated carbon, to capture and to dissolve the solvent vapor in the dispersed phase of the scrubbing media in a gas scrubber; removing the solvent-enriched scrubbing media and concentrating the solvent-enriched scrubbing media employing an ultrafiltration device; stripping the solvent from the concentrated solvent-enriched scrubbing media from the ultrafiltration device to remove and recover the solvent, while recycling the scrubbing media for further contact with fresh solvent-laden air; and recycling the water carrier as a permeate for reuse in contacting the solvent-laden air. |