Impact of Relative Humidity and Airborne Benzene Concentrations on Condensation Water from Air Product Water
Abstract
Finding sources of safe drinking water poses a challenge in remote areas without access to a reliable natural water source. Condensation Water from Air (CWFA)technology can help alleviate the worldwide water crisis by harnessing water vapor from air and producing potable water in diverse environments. This technology produces water by passing air over a surface cooled below the dew point of the ambient air, similar to a home dehumidifier. Previous studies have shown that water produced by CWFA systems is within drinking water standards for basic parameters such as metals, turbidity, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, total hardness, and total dissolved solids. However, a recent study evaluating the impact of air temperature and ambient benzene vapor concentrations on the CWFA product water found that benzene vapor concentrations representing an indoor industrial environment resulted in benzene product water concentrations up to twice the EPA drinking water standard of 5 g/L. The purpose of this research is to understand the effects of humidity on the transfer of benzene from ambient air to the CWFA product water. A CWFA machine was placed inside a 1 m3 volume exposure chamber with a low airflow rate (11 air changes per hour). A pressure vessel generated and maintained six different benzene vapor concentrations at steady state representing a range of polluted outdoor and industrial indoor environments. The conditions of the experiment consisted of two relative humidity conditions: 45% and 65%, and an air temperature of 25 deg C. Both CWFA product and control water were analyzed for benzene using U.S. EPA Method 524.2. The results of this study indicate that benzene vapor concentrations typical to a highly polluted outdoor environment resulted in benzene product water concentrations below the USEPA drinking water standard of 5 g/L.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1063971
Entities
People
- Karim Elyamani
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences