Method of processing volatile organic compound and system for processing volatile organic compound

1. A method of processing a volatile organic compound, comprising:

adsorbing in an adsorbent a volatile organic compound contained in a gas to be treated;

desorbing the volatile organic compound adsorbed in the adsorbent from the adsorbent by mixing the adsorbent with steam, under a pressurized environment;

combusting a separately supplied fuel and the steam mixed with the volatile organic compound in a steam generating apparatus to create combustion gas, generating steam by the use of heat of the combustion gas; and

using a part of the generated steam to desorb from the adsorbent the volatile organic compound adsorbed in the adsorbent,

wherein adsorption of the volatile organic compound with respect to the adsorbent, and desorption of the volatile organic compound from the adsorbent are alternately carried out in parallel.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a part of the steam generated by the use of the combustion gas is supplied to the adsorbent, into which the volatile organic compound has been adsorbed and to desorb the volatile organic compound adsorbed in the adsorbent, and combusting the rest of the steam generated by the use of the combustion gas by the steam generating apparatus.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a pre-process for concentrating the volatile organic compound is applied to the gas to be treated, and thereafter, the volatile organic compound is adsorbed in the adsorbent.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the pre-process comprises either one or both of (i) a concentration process in which the volatile organic compound contained in the gas to be treated is adsorbed in the adsorbent, and thereafter, the volatile organic compound is desorbed from the adsorbent by the use of hot gas to thereby be concentrated, and (ii) a dehumidifying process in which the water content is removed from the gas to be treated.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the volatile organic compound is adsorbed in the adsorbent, and thereafter, the volatile organic compound in the adsorbent is heated by the use of hot gas before it is desorbed by the use of steam.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the hot gas is discharge gas of combustion gas that has been supplied to generate steam.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the hot gas is air that has been heated by heat transfer with discharge gas of combustion gas that has been supplied to generate steam.

8. A processing system of a volatile organic compound, comprising:

an adsorption apparatus which adsorbs in an adsorbent a volatile organic compound contained in gas to be treated, and desorbs the volatile organic compound adsorbed in the adsorbent from the adsorbent by the use of steam and mixing it with the steam, under a pressurized environment, the adsorption apparatus comprising first and second adsorption units;

a pre-processing device for pre-processing the gas to be treated;

a switching apparatus which switches between the first and second adsorption units so that adsorption of the volatile organic compound in the adsorbent of the first adsorption unit and desorption of the volatile organic compound from the adsorbent of the second adsorption unit are alternately carried out in parallel; and

a steam-generating combustion apparatus operative to combust a separately supplied fuel with the steam mixed with the volatile organic compound to create a combustion gas, and further operative to generate steam using heat of the combustion gas,

wherein at least a part of steam generated by the steam-generating apparatus is directed to the adsorption apparatus for desorbing the volatile organic compound adsorbed in the adsorbent.

9. The processing system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

a steam bypass control valve which controls a flow of steam directly supplied to the combustion apparatus without being passed through the adsorption apparatus.

10. The processing system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

a pre-processing apparatus for concentrating a volatile organic compound contained in the gas to be treated, before adsorbing the volatile organic compound in the adsorbent.

11. The processing system as recited in claim 10 , wherein the pre-processing apparatus comprises either one or both of (i) a concentrator where the volatile organic compound contained in the gas to be treated is adsorbed in the adsorbent, and thereafter, the volatile organic compound is desorbed from the adsorbent by the use of hot gas to thereby be concentrated, and (ii) a dehumidifier where the water content is removed from the gas to be treated.

12. The processing system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the volatile organic compound in the adsorbent is heated by the use of hot gas before it is desorbed by the use of steam.

13. The processing system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the hot gas is discharge gas of combustion gas supplied to generate steam.

14. The processing system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:

a heating apparatus where air is heated by heat transfer with discharge gas of combustion gas supplied to generate steam, and

wherein the hot gas is the heated air discharged from the heating apparatus.