WO1993023148A1

WO1993023148A1 - Portable vapor control apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1993023148A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/004446
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Varner
Original assignee: Newport Petroleum
Priority date: 1992-05-12
Filing date: 1993-05-11
Publication date: 1993-11-25
Also published as: AU4244193A

Abstract

A portable device (3) for controlling the emission of hydrocarbon vapor and other gaseous pollutants when filling a receptacle with volatile petroleum products, and in particular when filling the cargo compartment of a marine vessel (4). Methods for removing hydrocarbons and other pollutants from a gaseous mixture are also disclosed.

Description

PORTABLE VAPOR CONTROL APPARATUS

Background of the Invention

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable device for controlling the emission of hydrocarbon vapors and other pollutants when filling a receptacle with volatile petroleum products. This invention also relates to methods of removing hydrocarbons and other pollutants from a gaseous mixture. Background

In recent years, the public has become increasingly aware of the environmental problems associated with the unregulated use of petroleum products. This has prompted the government to regulate not only the burning of petroleum fuels, but also the processing and the transfer of raw petroleum products. In particular, the government has focused on controlling the emission of hydrocarbon vapors and other pollutants which are released when volatile petroleum products come into contact with the atmosphere.

Although the regulation of petroleum vapor emissions was limited at first to stationary sources, such as refineries and tank farms, the scope of government regulations has gradually expanded to include mobile sources such as cars, ships, airplanes and trucks. In general, stationary sources of vapor emissions have been required to provide means for processing hydrocarbon emissions, while mobile carriers of volatile petroleum products have been required only to collect and to present petroleum vapors for further processing. For example, gas stations in California are required to provide special hoses which gather the vapors otherwise vented to the atmosphere during the fueling of an automobile. The mobile source of hydrocarbon vapor emissions, in this case the automobile, is required only to present petroleum vapors for further handling by the gas station.

Until now, marine vessels have been generally exempt from regulations involving the control of petroleum vapor emissions . Recently, however , several j urisdictions have adopted pollution control laws which place limits on such emissions during the loading of marine cargo vessels with volatile petroleum products. Like the California laws governing gas stations, these laws generally require that stationary, shore-based facilities process the petroleum vapors. Ships carrying petroleum products must therefore possess a means for presenting such vapors to a shore-side facility unless they have some other means of controlling petroleum vapor emissions.

Some shore-side vapor processing facilities require that vapors be inerted, or made non-explosive, before being presented to the facility. Vapors are normally inerted by channeling inert gases, such as CO₂, into the compartments containing petroleum products. Ships presenting vapors to such facilities must therefore also be outfitted with inerting systems.

Although the component of petroleum vapor emissions most often targeted for regulation is hydrocarbon vapor, pollutants besides hydrocarbons are also released by volatile petroleum products. Some grades of raw petroleum, for example, contain hydrogen sulfide and other hydrogen-containing organic compounds. When released into the air, these compounds produce an unpleasant odor, which has led to the regulation of the release of such compounds in residential areas.

The current practice of ships calling on ports with pollution control requirements is to install piping on such ships which connects the venting systems of the storage compartments of such vessels to a common collection manifold, known as a header pipe. The vapors can then be ducted from this manifold to a shore-side facility for processing. However, if the ship does not already have an inerting system and the shore-side facility requires that inerted vapors be presented for processing, an inerting system must also be installed. The most common type of inerting system involves ducting the exhaust from a ship's engine to petroleum storage compartments. Barges, however, cannot be outfitted with conventional inerting systems because they do not possess the capability of generating large volumes of inert gas.

Since many jurisdictions, especially jurisdictions outside the U.S., do not yet have air pollution control requirements, many marine vessels are not equipped to control hydrocarbon vapor emissions. There is therefore a great need for a portable, cost-effective means of controlling petroleum vapor emissions which may be transported to a ship in need of petroleum vapor control.

Summary of the Invention

The device of the present invention provides such a portable, cost effective means of meeting current pollution control requirements. This device may be moved aboard any marine vessel which is not otherwise equipped to present vapors to a shore-side facility, and can also remove pollutants from the vapors exiting the cargo compartments of such a vessel. A ship carrying petroleum products therefore need not make a heavy capital investment and install the piping necessary to present vapors to a shore-side facility in order to comply with pollution control regulations. This is a great advantage for a ship which does not often call on ports with pollution control regulations.

Using the present device in place of a permanent system of collection pipes is also of particular advantage to vessels which lack inerting systems. Since shore-side vapor processing facilities often require that the vapors presented to them be inerted, a vessel would have to install an inerting system in addition to the other piping necessary to present vapors to such a facility. Barges, in fact, can't install inerting systems because they lack the equipment (engines, boilers, etc.) necessary to generate the large volumes of inert gas necessary to blanket cargo compartments containing petroleum products. The device of the present invention therefore will allow barges to call on ports having facilities which require that the vapors being presented be inerted.

The present invention is also useful in situations in which it is necessary or desirable to remove pollutants in addition to hydrocarbons from petroleum vapors. For example, the release of sulfur-containing compounds during the loading of a vessel with petroleum products is controlled in some areas. It is anticipated, moreover, that in the future the release of other pollutants, such as CO₂, will also be controlled. The device of the present invention is capable of controlling the release of a number of pollutants, including hydrogen sulfide, sulfur-containing organic compounds, CO, CO₂, NOx, and SOx from a stream of petroleum vapor.

Therefore, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a petroleum vapor control apparatus is provided which is portable, cost-effective, and capable of removing a variety of pollutants from a stream of gaseous materials. In a preferred embodiment, the vapor control apparatus is composed of four major components:, one or more reactor beds made of a solid material for adsorbing pollutants from a gaseous mixture, conduits for ducting gaseous materials from a receptacle containing petroleum products to such reactor beds, an effluent gas system for venting the nonadsorbed constituents of the gaseous materials to the atmosphere, and a support structure for giving support to the apparatus and allowing it to be transported to a site in need of petroleum vapor control. Alternatively, an apparatus employing a caustic liquid adsorbent in place of a solid adsorbent material may be used when only sulfur-containing compounds are desired to be removed. In another embodiment of the present invention, a petroleum vapor control apparatus is provided which may be fixedly installed on board a marine vessel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention on a barge during the loading of the barge with liquid petroleum.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram showing the major components of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the flow of gases through this embodiment.

Figure 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end view of the inlet end of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end view of the outlet end of the apparatus shown in Figure 3.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments In a preferred embodiment, the vapor control apparatus is used on a barge which lacks an inerting system and a means for presenting vapors to a shore-side facility. As shown in Figure 1, in operation the vapor control apparatus 3 sits on the deck of a barge 4 at a dock 5 during the loading of liquid petroleum onto the barge 4. A vapor collection hose 6 is attached at one end to the vapor control apparatus 3 and fitted at its other end to an atmospheric vent 7 , such as a pressure/vacuum vent, of a compartment to be loaded with petroleum products. In a preferred embodiment, the hose 6 may be connected to different adapters so that it may be connected to atmospheric vents of various sizes.

Petroleum products are then loaded onto the barge 4 through a conduit 9. Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, vapors passing through the vapor collection hose 6 are ducted to an inlet 10 of the vapor control apparatus 3, and from there are passed through a reactor bed (43 or 44 in Figure 3), which in a preferred embodiment is activated carbon impregnated with a caustic solution and contained in a drum or canister. In this embodiment, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur-containing organic compounds, NOx, and SOx are removed from the vapors as they pass through the reactor bed.

If only sulfur-containing compounds are desired to be removed, an adsorber containing a caustic solution may be used in place of a reactor bed of activated carbon or other solid adsorbent material. In this embodiment (not shown), the reactor bed is replaced by a liquid caustic material which is held in a container. The petroleum vapors from the cargo compartment of a ship are bubbled through the caustic solution to remove sulfur-containing compounds from the vapors. In an alternate embodiment, the caustic solution is sprayed over webbing inside the adsorber containerso that the vapor passing through the adsorber may contact the caustic solution. Other means for contacting vapors with a caustic solution are well known in the art and may similarly be used in the portable vapor control apparatus of the present invention.

During the loading of petroleum onto the barge 4, if the loading rate exceeds the rate for which the vapor control apparatus is designed to process petroleum vapors, additional reactor beds in the apparatus may be used in parallel, if they are not already in use. Alternatively, a second vapor control apparatus may be used, or the loading rate may be slowed. The size and number of reactor beds used in the vapor control apparatus will, of course, vary from application to application, depending on factors such as the fill rate of the petroleum-containing receptacle and the expected cargo size.

After passing through the bed of activated carbon, the gases not adsorbed by the carbon bed are vented to the atmosphere through an effluent gas system. In a preferred embodiment, the effluent gas system comprises a vertical pipe 24, a pipe 58, and a flame arrester 23. Potassium permanganate indicators 25 on the drums of activated carbon warn or verify when a reactor is spent and requires changing. Such indicators should occasionally be checked in order to ensure that the reactor beds have not been saturated with pollutants.

Once a reactor bed is saturated, it must be changed out. Spent reactor beds may be sent away to disposal sites, or to vendors who regenerate the reactor beds so that they may be used again. If a reactor bed becomes saturated during the filling of a vessel, an off-line reactor bed in the apparatus may be put into operation, or another vapor control apparatus may be connected to the source of petroleum vapors.

As each cargo compartment is filled to a desired level, the vapor collection hose 6 is disconnected and then reconnected to the atmospheric vent of another compartment until all compartments have been filled. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of hoses. In this embodiment, the atmospheric vents of all the cargo compartments of a vessel to be filled are connected to the vapor control apparatus at once, so that various compartments of the ship may be filled without having to disconnect and reconnect vapor collection hoses each time a different cargo compartment is desired to be filled. The plurality of hoses duct vapors to a common collection manifold, and from there the vapors are passed through the reactor beds. Of course, if the venting system of the vessel is already set up to duct vapors to a common collection manifold, the vapor collection hose 6 need only be connected to that manifold to effect the removal of pollutants from such vapors.

When all compartments of the barge have been filled to desired levels, the vapor control apparatus is returned to the dock 5. To move the apparatus 3 from the deck of the barge 4 to the dock 5, a crane (not shown) engages ribs 70 made of channel steel on the underside of the apparatus. The crane then lifts the apparatus off the deck of the barge 4 and moves it to a desired location on the dock 5. In one embodiment, the ribs 70 may have lift points (not shown) for the crane to engage. The ribs comprise a part of the support structure of the apparatus and help bear the weight of the device so that cranes, forklifts, or other suitable means may engage the apparatus and transport it to a site in need of petroleum vapor control. Thus, the apparatus is designed to be easily moved to locations in need of petroleum vapor control.

In an alternate embodiment, the vapor control apparatus

3 is fixed on board the barge 4. When the barge 4 is docked and ready to be loaded with petroleum products, hoses attached to the vapor control apparatus are connected to the venting system of the barge's cargo compartments. Alternatively, fixed piping (not shown) may be installed to connect the vapor control apparatus to the venting system of the barge's cargo compartments. The procedure outlined above is then followed to remove hydrocarbons and other pollutants from the gaseous materials exiting the cargo compartments of the barge.

Figure 2 diagrams the flow of vapor through the vapor control apparatus of the present invention. Referring to Figure 2 , gaseous materials from a source of petroleum vapor enter the apparatus through an inlet 10 and flow through tube 50, past a pressure/vacuum relief valve 11 and a flame arrester 21. The pressure/vacuum relief valve 11 is preferably set to open if the pressure in the device rises above .8 psig or falls below .4 psig. If the valve 11 opens and releases unprocessed petroleum vapor to the atmosphere, the flame arrester 21 prevents the combustion of such vapor.

The gaseous materials then flow past a pressure indicator

12, which preferably has a range of about 30 inches of mercury. The pressure indicator 12 displays the inlet pressure of the vapor entering the apparatus. Next to the pressure indicator 12 on tube 50 is a high pressure indicator 13 and a low pressure indicator 14, which present warning signals when the maximum or minimum recommended operating pressures, respectively, are exceeded.

Past the pressure indicators on tube 50 is a main control valve 31, which remains open during the normal operation of the apparatus. This valve, like the other valves used in this embodiment of the device, is a manually operated valve such as a butterfly valve well known in the art. At the end of the tube 50 is a blower 20 which draws vapor into the apparatus and then impels it through one or more reactor beds. In a preferred embodiment, these reactor beds are activated carbon bed adsorbers such as those in the Model 200 made by CameronYakima, Inc. In another preferred embodiment, such carbon beds are impregnated with a caustic solution.

A pressure indicator 15 near the outlet end of the blower displays the pressure of the stream of vapor as it leaves the blower. After leaving the blower, the gaseous materials flow through one of several flow paths, depending on which of a series of valves is open or closed. In flow path 1, valve 32 is open and valve 33 is closed so that the gaseous materials flow through line 51. Valves 37 and 38 are likewise closed so that the gaseous materials flow into the intake ends of reactor beds 41 and 42. In this flow path, valve 34 remains open and valve 36 is closed, so that the non-adsorbed gaseous materials leaving the outlet ends of the reactors are forced to flow through line 52, into line 58, and past flame arrestor 23. These gaseous materials are then vented to the atmosphere through an outlet 24.

In this flow path, the two reactor beds 41, 42 are used in parallel, while the reactor beds 43, 44 lie idle. This flow path might be desired if the use of two reactor beds in parallel is sufficient to handle the flow of vapor passing through the apparatus and if no further processing of the vapor is necessary. This flow path would also be used if the flow through reactor beds 43 and 44 must be shut off, such as when they have been saturated with pollutants and it is necessary to replace them.

In flow path 2, valve 32 is closed and valve 33 is open so that the gaseous materials leaving the blower 20 flow through line 54 and into line 54a. Valves 36 and 39 are also closed so that the gaseous materials are channeled to the intake ends of reactor beds 43 and 44. On the outlet ends of reactor beds 43 and 44, valves 37 and 34 are shut and valve 35 is open so that the non-adsorbed gaseous materials pass through line 55 and into line 58. These gases are then subsequently vented to the atmosphere. As in flow path 1, only two of the reactor beds, in this case reactor beds 43 and 44, are used in parallel. Reactor beds 41 and 42 are off-line so that they may be replaced or saved for future use.

In flow path 3, all four reactor beds are in use. In this flow path, valve 33 is open and valve 32 is closed, so that the gaseous materials flow through line 54. Valves 36 and 39 are also closed, so that the materials pass through reactor beds 43 and 44. On the outlet ends of reactor beds 43 and 44, valve 37 is open and valve 35 is closed so that the non-adsorbed gaseous materials pass from line 55 into line 56. They next flow into line 51 and through the reactor beds 41 and 42. Valve 34 is open downstream from these reactors, and since valves 35 and 36 are closed, the remaining gaseous materials will be directed through line 52 and into line 58. From there, these gases are vented to the atmosphere.

In this flow path, therefore, the gaseous materials first flow through reactor beds 43 and 44 in parallel, and then pass through reactor beds 41 and 42 in parallel, so that the gaseous materials have in the end passed through two reactor beds in series. This flow path is desirable when passing the gaseous materials through one set of reactor beds alone does not sufficiently remove pollutants from those gaseous materials, and when passing the gaseous materials through two reactor beds in series is desired.

In flow path 4, the gaseous materials are passed through two reactor beds in series as in flow path 3, except that the gaseous materials first pass through reactor beds 41 and 42 before passing through reactor beds 43 and 44. In this flow path, valve 33 is closed and valve 32 is open so that the gaseous materials first pass through line 51. Valves 37 and 38 are closed so that the gaseous materials next pass through one of the reactors 41 and 42. Valves 34 and 39 are closed, while valve 36 is open so that the gaseous materials next flow through reactor beds 43 and 44. On the outlet ends of the reactor beds 43 and 44, valve 35 is open, while valves 34 and 37 remain closed, so that the non-adsorbed gaseous materials next flow through line 58 and are vented to the atmosphere.

In flow path 5, finally, both of valves 32 and 33 are open. Valves 36, 37, 38 and 39 are all closed, while valves 34 and 35 are open. In this way, the gaseous materials entering line 54 flow through line 54a and through reactor beds 43 and 44 before flowing through valve 35 and into line 58. The gaseous materials entering line 51, on the other hand, flow through reactor beds 41 and 42 before passing through valve 34 and flowing into line 58. The non-adsorbed gaseous materials flowing through the outlet ends of both sets of reactor beds then flow through flame arrester 23 and are vented to the atmosphere. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the inlet 10 is adapted to connect with hoses (not shown) which duct petroleum vapors from a source of volatile petroleum products. As shown in Figure 3, located slightly downstream from and above the inlet 10 is a flame arrester 21, a pressure/vacuum valve 11 and a pressure/vacuum vent 22. As best shown in Figure 2, the flame arrester 21 is located between the pressure/vacuum valve 11 and the inlet stream of vapor. In that way, should the pressure/vacuum valve 11 be forced to open due to the high pressure of an incoming stream of vapor, the flame arrester 21 will prevent the combustion of such vapors when they are vented through the pressure/vacuum vent 22.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, a tube 50 is connected to the inlet 10 and contains a number of pressure indicators. In a preferred embodiment, these indicators include a pressure gauge 12 for displaying the inlet pressure of the incoming stream of petroleum vapor, a high pressure indicator 13 for signaling when the pressure of the vapor flowing through the apparatus exceeds the recommended operating pressures, and a low pressure indicator 14 for indicating when the incoming stream of vapor falls below recommended operating pressures. The tube 50 also includes a main control valve 31 for shutting off the incoming flow of vapor. Main control valve 31 remains open during the normal operation of the apparatus.

The tube 50 is then connected to a blower 20 which draws the stream of vapor through tube 50 and impels it through the remainder of the apparatus. As best shown in Figure 3, the blower directs the incoming gaseous materials in a generally downward direction. These materials then flow into one of the pipes 51 or 54, or into both of these pipes, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Referring now to Figure 3, pipe 54a, which is connected to pipe 54, is further connected to intake hoses 65 and 67, which are in turn connected to reactor beds 43 and 44, respectively. Pipe 51 is similarly connected to reactor beds 41 and 42 via intake hoses 61 and 63, respectively, as shown in Figure 4. Outlet hoses 62, 64, 66, 68 then conduct the gases which have passed through the reactor beds to conduits which duct these gases either to the atmosphere or to another set of reactor beds for further processing.

As seen in Figures 4-6, an outlet hose 66, connected to the reactor bed 43, and another outlet hose 68, connected to the reactor bed 44, are connected to pipe 55. Similarly, an outlet hose 62, connected to reactor bed 41, and an outlet hose 64, connected to reactor bed 42, are both connected to pipe 52. A valve 36 on pipe 52 and a valve 37 on pipe 55 control the flow of processed gas into pipes 53 and 56, respectively, which duct the processed gas back into the apparatus for further processing. Valves 34 and 35 on pipes 52 and 55, respectively, control the flow of processed gas into a pipe 58, which leads to an outlet 24. Between pipe 58 and the outlet 24 is a flame arrester 23 which . prevents the flaring of any combustible gases which exit the apparatus through the atmospheric vent 24.

Figures 3-6 illustrate a preferred embodiment in which some of the pipes serve both to duct vapors within the apparatus and to provide support to the apparatus. In this embodiment, the support structure of the apparatus is composed of pipes made of a suitably strong material, ribs made of channel steel, and other support members made of a suitably strong but light-weight material. The pipes comprising the support structure of this embodiment include pipes 51, 52, 53, 54, 54a, 55, and 56, which are integrally connected to each other by means of ribs 70 and support members 78 and 79. Referring to Figure 4, the ribs 70 connect the pipes 51 and 54a. The ribs 70 also support reactor beds 41, 42, 43, and 44. Support members 78 and 79 are attached to pipes 52 and 55 with a C-clamp and are welded to the ribs 70, thus rendering structural support to the apparatus. Using the pipes of the apparatus both to conduct vapors and to give support to the apparatus not only saves on the cost of materials but also allows the apparatus to remain light so as to be easily transportable.

Although the invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, these embodiments are illustrative only and do not limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand other ways of making and using the present invention.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS;

1. A portable petroleum vapor control apparatus for conducting gaseous materials from the cargo compartment of a marine vessel containing volatile petroleum products and for removing hydrocarbon vapors and other pollutants from said gaseous materials, comprising:

canisters containing a solid adsorbent material for removing pollutants from gaseous materials;

conduits for conducting gaseous materials to and from said canisters;

a support structure comprising said conduits which supports said canisters and enables the apparatus to be moved to locations in need of petroleum vapor control.

2. The vapor control apparatus of Claim 1,. wherein said adsorbent material is activated carbon.

3. The apparatus of Claim 2, wherein said activated carbon is impregnated with a caustic solution.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said adsorbent material can adsorb pollutants from said gaseous materials selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur-containing organic compounds, NOx, and SOx.

5. The apparatus of Claim 1, including a blower for drawing said gaseous materials and passing them through the apparatus.

6. The apparatus of Claim 1, including pressure indicators for displaying the pressure of said gaseous materials flowing through said conduits.

7. The apparatus of Claim 1, including a potassium permanganate indicator for indicating when the adsorbent material in a canister is saturated with pollutants.

8. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said canisters are selectively connected in series or in parallel.

9. The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein said canisters are connected in series to effect the serial removal of pollutants from said gaseous materials.

10. The apparatus of Claim 1, including high pressure and low pressure indicators for signaling when the pressure of said gaseous materials in the apparatus are above or below a specified range.

11. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein said apparatus is permanently mounted on board a marine cargo vessel.

12. A portable petroleum vapor control apparatus, comprising:

a reactor bed comprising a solid material for removing pollutants from gaseous materials;

at least one conduit for conducting said gaseous materials from a receptacle containing volatile petroleum products to an intake end of said reactor bed;

an effluent gas system which conducts the- gaseous materials not adsorbed by said reactor bed from an outlet end of said reactor bed and vents them to the atmosphere; and

a support structure which provides support to the apparatus and enables the apparatus to be transported to a site in need of petroleum vapor control.

13. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said reactor bed is activated carbon.

14. The apparatus of Claim 13, wherein said activated carbon is impregnated with a caustic solution.

15. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said reactor bed can adsorb pollutants from said gaseous materials selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur-containing organic compounds, NOx and SOx.

16. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said effluent gas system includes a flame arrester.

17. The apparatus of Claim 12, including a blower for drawing said gaseous materials from said receptacle and passing them through the vapor control apparatus.

18. The apparatus of Claim 12, including a pressure indicator for displaying the pressure of said gaseous materials flowing through the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said effluent gas system includes a potassium permanganate indicator for indicating when a reactor is saturated with pollutants.

20. The apparatus of Claim 12, comprising a plurality of reactor beds.

21. The apparatus of Claim 20, wherein said reactor beds are selectively connected in series or in parallel.

22. The apparatus of Claim 21, wherein said reactor beds are connected in series to effect the serial removal of hydrocarbon vapors and other pollutants from said gaseous materials.

23. The apparatus of Claim 20, including piping for interconnecting said plurality of reactor beds..

24. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein said support structure comprises said piping and said piping is connected by ribs.

25. The apparatus of Claim 12, comprising a plurality of conduits for conducting said gaseous materials to the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of Claim 12, including high pressure and low pressure indicators for signalling when the pressure of said gaseous materials in the apparatus are above or below a specified range.

27. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said apparatus is permanently mounted on board a marine cargo vessel.

28. The apparatus of Claim 27, wherein said conduit is a pipe fixed to said vessel.

29. A portable petroleum vapor control apparatus for conducting gaseous materials from the cargo compartment of a marine vessel containing volatile petroleum products and for removing sulfur-containing compounds from a mixture of gaseous materials, comprising:

an adsorber comprising a caustic liquid for adsorbing sulfur-containing compounds from a mixture of gaseous materials;

at least one conduit for conducting said gaseous materials from a cargo compartment of a marine vessel to an intake end of said adsorber;

an effluent gas system which conducts the gaseous materials not adsorbed by said adsorber from an outlet end of said adsorber and vents them to the atmosphere; and

a support structure which gives support to the apparatus and enables the apparatus to be moved to a site in need of petroleum vapor control.

30. A method for removing pollutants from gases exiting a cargo compartment on a marine vessel which is being filled with volatile petroleum products, comprising the steps of:

placing a vapor control apparatus on board a marine vessel;

connecting a conduit to an atmospheric vent of the cargo compartment of said marine vessel and to said apparatus;

conducting a gaseous mixture of air, hydrocarbons and other pollutants from said cargo compartment through said conduit to said apparatus;

passing said gaseous mixture through a solid adsorbent bed capable of adsorbing some of said pollutants from said mixture; and

venting the non-adsorbed components of said gaseous mixture to the atmosphere.

31. The method of Claim 30, wherein said solid adsorbent comprises activated carbon impregnated with a caustic solution which adsorbs hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur-containing organic compounds.

32. The method of Claim 30 including the step of passing said gaseous mixture through a plurality of solid adsorbent beds.

33. The method of Claim 30, wherein said apparatus is fixedly placed on board said marine vessel.

34. The method of Claim 30, including the step of removing said apparatus from said vessel.

35. A method for removing pollutants from a gaseous mixture exiting a receptacle containing volatile petroleum products, comprising:

transporting a portable petroleum vapor control apparatus to a site in need of petroleum vapor control, said vapor control apparatus including a conduit attached thereto;

attaching said conduit to an atmospheric vent of said receptacle containing volatile petroleum products; conducting gaseous mixture containing hydrocarbon vapors and other pollutants to a solid adsorbent bed capable of removing some of said pollutants from said gaseous mixture;

passing said gaseous mixture through said adsorbent bed; and

venting the non-adsorbed components of said gaseous mixture to the atmosphere.

36. The method of Claim 35, wherein said solid adsorbent comprises activated carbon impregnated with a caustic solution.

37. The method of Claim 35, including the step of passing said gaseous mixture through a plurality of solid adsorbent beds.