That commercial recovery of vapors, generally, has only recently become of importance is due to the increase in economic value of the vapors, the industrial demand for the vapors, and the expansion of the recovery technique to new fields. Those interested in the subject, in the past, will recall the book, by this author, on "The Recovery of Volatile Solvents" published some twenty years ago. The present book not only brings the subject matter of the old book up to date but includes the more recent developments.
The beginning of the treatment deals with those elementary principles of chemical engineering bearing on the subject. These are blended into the more basic principles of vapor recovery. Thus, at the start, the discussion centers on gases and vapors, vaporization, distillation, and condensation. Then, adsorption is taken up leading to the recovery of adsorbed vapors and commercial activated carbon systems. Among the latter, there is described the Columbia Activated Carbon System of Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation, the development of which was carried out by Dr. N. K. Chaney. Later, the Anticarbone System is described, which is useful in recovering gasoline from natural gas.
Condensation is the next method of vapor recovery discussed. Here, in order, there is covered condensation at constant pressure, with cooling water both where the condensing vapor is soluble in the cooling medium and where it is insoluble, and with refrigeration. The very important factor of the heat of vaporization, in the vaporizing solvent in the presence of inert gases, is given attention followed later by illustrations of applications of condensation.
The topics of compression and cooling follow this. The use of liquids as absorbing media is the third method of vapor recovery taken up. Likewise, this gives principles of the recovery and a description of typical scrubbing apparatus.
In the latter part of the book, there is a chapter devoted to special absorbents. This covers such absorbents as sulphuric acid, cresol, and tetrahydronaphthalene. A chapter on extraction by solvents completes the book.
The work is focused, definitely, on the subject with a sharp boundary line surrounding it. This is characteristic of the former book. Nothing outside of the boundary line is covered, but all of the fundamental principles within the subject are here. They are put forth in an easily understandable manner. The book contains basictheory of practical value especially to the beginner in this field.