CN118215532A - Graphene-based adsorbent material for preventing leakage emissions and providing low flow restriction through a vent connected to an EVAP canister and forming part of a scrubber of a vehicle EVAP emissions management system - Google Patents

Abstract

The graphene-based adsorbent material is incorporated into a scrubber that forms part of a carbon canister or a vent connected to a carbon canister in an evaporative emissions management system. The adsorbent material specifically adsorbs vaporized hydrocarbons to prevent leakage emissions while also providing low flow restriction. The graphene adsorbent is provided as an activated graphene derivative and a polymer extruded in a honeycomb design pattern to provide a plurality of channels for vapor flow. The scrubber was connected to the EVAP canister vent and incorporated into a scrubber element that exhibited a honeycomb extruded structure with any combination of activated graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, charcoal, ceramic, adhesive, and flux materials.

Description

Graphene-based adsorbent material for preventing leakage emissions and providing low flow restriction through a vent connected to an EVAP canister and forming part of a scrubber of a vehicle EVAP emissions management system

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority to USSN 17/975,107 submitted on month 10, month 27 of 2022, which claims priority to USSN 63/274,165 submitted on month 11, month 1 of 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including the accompanying figures.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to sorbent materials incorporated into EVAP emission management systems. More specifically, the present invention discloses a graphene-based sorbent scrubber material that is used in combination with an EVAP canister to reduce leakage emissions-due to the lack of absorbent capacity of the canister, and that provides the features of higher surface area and better adsorption/desorption capacity.

Background

Automotive evaporative emissions control technology prevents Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), such as evaporated hydrocarbons, from escaping into the atmosphere and meets EPA/CARB standards under LEV II/LEVIII emissions standards. As described above, the "EVAP canister" plays a key role in modern evaporative emissions control technology by temporarily adsorbing the vaporized hydrocarbons and discharging only clean air.

Evaporative emissions are not colored and therefore there is an unattended risk of escape. If these vaporized hydrocarbons are allowed to escape, they will react with the air in sunlight and produce fumes that are harmful to the human population and the entire ecosystem.

The main sources of evaporative emissions can be traced back to fueling and daytime related emissions. During fueling, when new fuel is added from the dispenser nozzle to the vehicle gasoline tank, vaporized hydrocarbons discharged from the gasoline tank are discharged into the canister. Daytime emissions occur due to fuel vapors generated by temperature fluctuations during the diurnal period.

The canister contains a sorbent material, such as high surface area (activated) carbon. Gasoline vapors, which are mainly composed of hydrocarbon molecules such as butane and pentane, are attracted to the nonpolar surface of activated carbon and thus are temporarily adsorbed (defined as physical adsorption or physical adsorption) by which the electronic structure of atoms or molecules is hardly disturbed during adsorption), so that only clean air is discharged to the atmosphere through the vent.

Engine control systems that are directed to minimizing emissions facilitate canister purging. During engine combustion air intake, the vacuum created draws air into the canister through the exhaust port, flows through the adsorbent carbon bed, causing the vaporized hydrocarbons to desorb into the engine intake through the purge port.

Typically, during purging, small levels of vaporized hydrocarbons remain adsorbed on the adsorbent material. Thus, the air flowing out through the vent carries with it the remaining hydrocarbons, resulting in "leakage emissions". Leakage emissions are particularly observed when the fuel tank is heated, causing air to escape through the vent to the atmosphere.

The leakage effluent is adsorbed by a scrubber containing carbon material, which is connected to the canister vent opening. The carbon material may be, for example, an activated carbon fiber material or a carbon monolith (carbon monolith). The scrubber may be made of any suitable material, for example, a molded thermoplastic polymer, such as nylon or polycarbonate. Air exiting the canister may flow through the scrubber. Current commercial scrubbers are extruded in honeycomb designs where activated carbon is the adsorbent material. They are rigid, fragile, and of very specific dimensions, requiring additional protection against vehicle vibration and shock.

It is well known that the main components of a typical EVAP system include a fuel tank that stores gasoline and its vapors. The operation of the filler pumps is such that once the nozzles detect that the filler level is reached in the tank, they are stopped in order to maintain a minimum expansion space at the top, so that the fuel stored therein can expand without spilling or forcing the EVAP system to leak.

The EVAP canister is connected to the fuel tank by a tank vent line and, according to conventional designs, typically contains one to two pounds of activated carbon that acts as a sponge by absorbing and storing fuel vapors until the purge valve opens and allows the vacuum at the engine intake to siphon the fuel vapors from the charcoal into the engine intake manifold (desorption) for combustion. The vent control valve allows fuel vapor to flow from the fuel tank into the EVAP canister. Purge valves/sensors allow engine air intake vacuum to siphon fuel vapors from the EVAP canister to the engine intake manifold (desorption process). The vent hose provides a means for fuel vapor to flow to the various components of the EVAP system. The fuel tank pressure sensor monitors whether there is a leak in pressure and overpressure build-up. Finally, a fuel level sensor monitors the fuel level in the tank.

There are limitations to the long term performance of the activated carbon adsorbent materials used in conventional EVAP canisters. If the desorption process is incomplete, it results in trace amounts of residual hydrocarbons on the adsorbent material and, over time, may reduce the adsorption capacity. Thus, during refueling or during diurnal losses, the gas stream flowing from the fuel tank to the canister and out through the vent to the atmosphere may contain trace amounts of harmful gasoline components that are not now adsorbed due to the reduced adsorption capacity of the adsorbent material. Although traditionally extruded granular forms of activated carbon have been the primary choice for canister filling, this persistent "leakage" problem remains a problem.

An example of an existing evaporative emission control system with a new adsorbent is disclosed in US 7,467,620 to Reddy, which teaches an adsorbent such as activated carbon provided therein having an almost linear isotherm.

Other prior art methods derived from the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,852 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,716 to Meiller et al, both of which teach a hydrocarbon emissions scrubber for use in evaporative emissions control systems, wherein the scrubber element incorporates an elongated body defining a plurality of channels that incorporate an adsorbent material incorporated into the scrubber to include activated carbon powder having an adsorption effect on hydrocarbons.

US 7,409,946 to King teaches a fuel vapor recovery canister that includes a hydrocarbon filter bed containing carbon particles. A purge vacuum is applied to the canister to draw fuel vapor carrying the recovered hydrocarbon material from the canister into an intake manifold coupled to the engine so that the recovered hydrocarbon material may be combusted in the engine.

Buelow et al, US 8,372,477, teaches a polymer trap with adsorbents including any one of zeolites, activated carbon, silica gel, metal organic framework compounds, and combinations thereof, for adhering particulate materials.

Ruettinger et al, US2020/0147586, teaches an evaporative emissions device and particulate carbon adsorbent and binder which further includes any of acrylic/styrene, copolymer latex, styrene-butadiene copolymer latex, polyurethane and mixtures thereof.

US 6,171,556 to Burk teaches an adsorbent composition comprising zeolite beta. An oxidant (e.g., air) is added to the exhaust stream at a point upstream of the second catalyst zone.

US 7,021,296 to Reddy teaches an evaporative emissions control system that includes a scrubber containing activated carbon particles or fibers for use as an adsorbent, such as further including pleated sheets, chopped fibers, fluffy webs, etc., and which is selected, for example, to adsorb low concentrations of butane and/or pentane isomer vapors in the air passing through the scrubber and desorb the adsorbed butane and/or pentane isomers without being heated.

US 7,753,034 to Hoke et al teaches another form of hydrocarbon absorption in which the adsorbent is coated as a washcoat slurry on a support substrate comprising any of ceramic, metal and polymer foam, metal foil, metal mesh, metal braid wires and polymer fibers.

U.S. patent 2020/0018265 to Chen et al teaches another form of EVAP emissions control system which teaches various hydrocarbon adsorbing compositions associated with a leaky emissions scrubber, including any of foam, monolithic materials, nonwoven, woven, sheet, paper, twisted spiral, tape, extruded forms, and other structured pleated and corrugated forms. Additional adsorbent options include any of activated carbon, charcoal, zeolite, clay, porous polymer, porous alumina, porous silica, molecular sieve kaolin, titania, ceria, and combinations thereof. The activated carbon options further include materials selected from the group consisting of wood, wood chips, wood flour, cotton linters, peat, coal, coconut, lignite, carbohydrates, petroleum pitch, petroleum coke, coal tar pitch, fruit pits (fruit stone), nut shells, nut pits, sawdust, palm, vegetables, synthetic polymers, natural polymers, lignocellulosic materials, and combinations thereof.

Finally, US 2002/0071847 to Sheline et al teaches a monolith for use in an evaporative emissions hydrocarbon scrubber, the monolith being comprised of an adsorbent having a honeycomb carbon composition with a specified wall thickness and comprising activated carbon and a binder. The monolith is disposed concentric with the housing and has at least one set of chambers disposed about at least two separate chambers such that the set of chambers includes at least three thick walls. The separate chamber includes at least one thin wall. A method of using the evaporative emissions hydrocarbon scrubber is also disclosed.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention seeks to address the shortcomings of conventional carbon-based sorbent materials and discloses graphene-based sorbent materials incorporated into scrubbers that form part of a carbon canister or a vent connected to a carbon canister in an evaporative emissions management system. The new adsorbent material further specifically adsorbs vaporized hydrocarbons to prevent leakage emissions while also providing low flow restriction.

Additional features include graphene adsorbents being provided as activated graphene derivatives and polymers extruded in a honeycomb design pattern to provide multiple channels for vapor flow. Additional variations include a scrubber connected to the EVAP canister vent that incorporates a scrubber element that exhibits a honeycomb extrusion structure with any combination of activated graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, charcoal, ceramic, adhesive, and flux materials. The graphene derivative group is not limited to any one of monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and functionalized graphene. The polymer may be further selected from any one of polypropylene, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polyester, and polyurethane.

In another embodiment, the novel design of the scrubber may include a graphene derivative polymer in foam form with enhanced surface area to prevent evaporative hydrocarbon weeping emissions. Other variations include scrubber elements that incorporate any type of foam or felt material, and likewise include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal. The polymer may be selected from any one of polypropylene, nylon-12, nylon-6, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, and polyurethane.

Drawings

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporative emissions control system including a graphene-based adsorbent material incorporated into a scrubber forming a portion of a carbon canister or a vent connected to the carbon canister;

FIG. 2 is a related schematic diagram of an EVAP system, as depicted, incorporating a vapor canister;

FIG. 3 is a further cross-sectional view of an EVAP canister, such as may be filled with activated carbon material, and illustrating various chambers associated with the adsorption/desorption process, including providing a new scrubber function to prevent leakage emissions from venting to the atmosphere through a vent and unlike a vent tube connected to a vehicle fuel tank;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a scrubber element connected to a carbon canister through a canister vent and having a honeycomb extrusion structure comprising any combination of active graphene derivative, lignocellulose, charcoal, ceramic, binder, and flux material;

FIG. 5 is a further illustration of a scrubber element similar to FIG. 4 having a foam and/or felt structure, which may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal;

FIG. 6 is a further illustration of a scrubber element similar to FIG. 3 having a foam structure placed anywhere within the carbon canister and which may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal;

FIG. 7 is a further illustration of a scrubber element similar to FIG. 6 having a felt structure placed anywhere within the tank and which may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose and charcoal; and

Fig. 8 is a still further illustration of a scrubber element that is a mixture of fig. 6 and 7, including both foam and felt structures placed within a carbon canister, and may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, the present invention seeks to address the shortcomings of conventional carbon-based adsorbent materials and instead discloses a graphene-based adsorbent material for use in an EVAP canister forming part of an evaporative emissions management system, particularly as a scrubber material, for reducing or completely removing leakage emissions so as to vent only clean air to the surrounding atmosphere through an EVAP canister vent.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view and fig. 2 is a schematic view of the construction of an evaporative emissions control system, indicated generally at 10 in fig. 1, including a fuel tank 12 with an extended filler neck 14 and a sealed fuel cap 16. The gas tank is further shown in cross-section in fig. 2 and depicts liquid gasoline, which defines a fill level 18 read by a fuel level sensor 20. Above the fill level, the fuel vapor 22 occupies an unoccupied upper expansion space or volume of the tank. A fuel tank pressure sensor 24 is also located in the fuel tank 12 and, in combination with the fuel level sensor 20, provides a fill level and tank pressure reading to a suitable Powertrain Control Module (PCM) 26.

An EVAP vapor canister 28 is provided and communicates through a vapor inlet line 30 extending from the fuel tank 12 that communicates with a vent control valve (see 32 in fig. 1) for allowing fuel vapor to flow from the fuel tank into the EVAP canister 28. An EVAP line 34 extending from the canister 28 includes a normally open EVAP solenoid valve (canister) vent valve 36. The evaporation bi-directional valve 35 is incorporated in a line 37 extending between the EVAP canister 28 and the EVAP canister vent valve 36.

A further line 38 extends from the canister 28 to a purge flow sensor 40, which purge flow sensor 40 is connected to the air intake system and allows the engine air intake to vacuum-siphon a precise amount of fuel vapor for delivery to the engine intake manifold (see further at 44 in fig. 1) through a line 42 extending from a fuel pump 43 that incorporates the fuel 12. PCM module 26 also receives inputs from each of EVAP vent solenoid valve 36, purge flow sensor 40, and EVAP purge solenoid valve 46, EVAP purge solenoid valve 46 being located downstream of the purge flow sensor and through which steam is allowed to flow to the throttle body.

Fig. 3 is a further cross-sectional view of an EVAP canister, such as previously depicted at 28 in fig. 1-2, and which may be filled with activated carbon material 48. The canister further shows various chambers associated with the adsorption process (see arrow 50 representing the load port) for drawing hydrocarbon vapors from the fuel tank through the vent line. Purge port 52 is also shown for desorbing retained hydrocarbons to the engine intake manifold during combustion.

Also depicted is a scrubber function (see scrubber element 54), which may be incorporated into a separate housing 56, as shown in FIG. 3, or alternatively, may be incorporated directly into the carbon canister 28. The scrubber 54 in this variation also includes an activated carbon material for preventing evaporative leakage emissions from entering the atmosphere through a separate vent 59.

Either the foam 57 or felt 58 structure may be placed anywhere within the canister, including for example, providing opposing gripping layers for the activated carbon 48. The activated carbon material may also include a polymer that provides activated graphene derivative powder and extrudes in a honeycomb design pattern to provide multiple channels for fuel vapor flow. The polymer may be further selected from any one of polypropylene, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polyester, and polyurethane.

In another embodiment, the novel design of the scrubber may include graphene derivatives and polymers in foam or felt form-with enhanced surface area to prevent leakage emissions of vaporized hydrocarbons. The polymer may be selected from any one of polypropylene, nylon-12, nylon-6, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, and polyurethane.

Fig. 4, as depicted generally at 60, provides an illustration of a combined EVP canister and scrubber, wherein the scrubber shown at 62 is connected to an EVAP canister 66 through a vent 64, the construction of which is similar to that previously described. The scrubber 62 includes an outer housing and incorporates internal components (see 63) that exhibit a honeycomb extrusion structure comprising any combination of activated graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, charcoal, ceramics, adhesives, and fluxing materials. The tubular housing end of the scrubber is also depicted at 68. Additional features include a load port 70 and a purge port 72 (again shown as 30 and 34 in fig. 2). As previously described in fig. 3, the reconfigured canister 66 may again include each of the activated carbon 74 and corresponding foam 76 and/or felt 78 layers, for example, at opposite gripping ends for encapsulating the carbon material.

Fig. 5 is a further illustration of a scrubber element, see generally 80, which is similar in construction to fig. 4, and like elements are numbered repeatedly. One variation of the scrubber at 62 'incorporates an internal element 63' having any of a foam and/or felt structure, which may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal.

Continuing to fig. 6, a further illustration of the scrubber element is shown at 82, similar to fig. 3, with a foam structure (see each of 76') placed anywhere within the canister, which may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal. Referring again to fig. 5, this may again include a reconfigured scrubber element foam layer (see 76') along with the activated carbon layer 74 and felt layer 78 previously described. Other features including each of the load port 70 and the purge port 72 are repeated, as are the modified vents 84.

Fig. 7 is a further illustration at 86 of a scrubber element similar to that of fig. 6, again incorporated into a carbon canister, and having a felt structure (modified at 78' see) that can be placed anywhere within the carbon canister and that can include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal. The remaining features are repeatedly numbered as shown in each of figures 4-6.

Finally, fig. 8 is a still further illustration of a scrubber element at 88, which is a mixture of fig. 6 and 7, and which includes both foam 76 'and felt 78' structures placed in various upper and lower positions within the carbon canister, and which again may include any combination of graphene derivatives, lignocellulose, and charcoal. Other repeat features are repeated for each of fig. 4-7.

The new adsorbent material may again include any graphene derivative incorporated into the polymer, in the form of any foam material that serves to maintain the canister volume and enable the proper adsorption of fuel vapors in the canister. The graphene derivative group is not limited to any one of monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, or functionalized graphene. As previously described, the graphene or graphene derivative adsorbent material is provided as any of the powder extruded, stamped or molded pellets and activated using chemical or thermal techniques.

The loading concentration of the graphene derivative in the scrubber element may vary, but is not limited to, 0.1-60 wt%. The scrubber element may also contain a polymer, including but not limited to a thermoplastic polymer, and may be selected from any one of, but not limited to, polyurethane, polyester, polypropylene, nylon 6, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinylchloride.

In another embodiment, the adsorbent scrubber material may be a combination of graphene derivatives and lignocellulosic material or charcoal incorporated into the volume compensator foam. Graphene derivatives incorporating polymers, in the form of mats, are used to encapsulate adsorbent materials in carbon canisters. Graphene derivative groups including, but not limited to, monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, or functionalized graphene. The loading concentration of the graphene derivative may also vary, but is not limited to 0.1 to 60 wt%.

The polymer may also comprise a thermoplastic polymer and may be selected from, but is not limited to, polyurethane, polyester, polypropylene, nylon 6, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinylchloride. As previously described, the new adsorbent material may include a combination of graphene derivatives and lignocellulosic material or charcoal incorporated into the foam or felt.

Other variations include powders in which the adsorbent material is provided as an activated graphene derivative and polymers extruded in a honeycomb design pattern to provide multiple channels for fuel vapor flow. The polymer may again be selected from, but is not limited to, polypropylene, nylon-12, nylon 6,12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polyester, and polyurethane. The powder may include a combination of an activated graphene derivative and a lignocellulosic material or charcoal.

Having described the invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The detailed description and drawings are further to be understood as supporting the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims. While the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims.

The foregoing disclosure is further to be understood as not being limited to the precise forms or particular areas of use disclosed. Thus, various alternative embodiments of the present disclosure and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implicit herein, are possible in light of the present disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is limited only by the claims.

In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various embodiments disclosed herein may be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the description is to be construed as illustrative, and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms of the disclosure shown and described herein are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes or steps may be substituted for those illustrated and described representatively herein. Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the disclosure. Expressions such as "comprising," "including," "incorporating," "consisting of … …," "having," "being" and "being" used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be interpreted in a non-exclusive manner, i.e., to allow for the existence of items, components, or elements that have not been explicitly described. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.

Further, the various embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in an illustrative and explanatory sense and should in no way be construed as limiting the present disclosure. All conjunctive references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, etc.) are only for aiding the reader in understanding the present disclosure, and may not impose limitations on, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Accordingly, the conjunctive term reference (if present) should be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.

Moreover, all numerical terms such as, but not limited to, "first," "second," "third," "primary," "secondary," "primary," or any other common and/or numerical terms, should also be construed as identifiers only to assist the reader in understanding the various elements, embodiments, variations, and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and are not likely to impose any limitations, particularly with respect to the order or preference of any element, embodiment, variation, and/or modification relative to or with respect to another element, embodiment, variation, and/or modification.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the figures/diagrams may also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Moreover, any signal hatch (SIGNAL HATCH) in the figures/drawings should be regarded as illustrative only and not as limiting unless otherwise specifically described.

Claims (20)

1. A combination canister and scrubber incorporated in an evaporative emission control system for an automobile for reducing evaporative emissions, the combination canister and scrubber comprising a housing containing a graphene derivative adsorbent material that adsorbs evaporated hydrocarbons to prevent leakage emissions while also providing low flow restrictions.

2. The invention of claim 1, the housing further comprising a main housing incorporating the canister and a separate housing incorporating the scrubber.

3. The invention of claim 1, the scrubber housing being incorporated within the canister housing or connected to the main housing via a vent.

4. The invention of claim 1, further comprising the graphene derivative material being selected from, but not limited to, any one of monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and functionalized graphene, the graphene or graphene derivative-based adsorbent material being further activated using a chemical or thermal technique.

5. The invention of claim 1, the graphene derivative adsorbent material further comprising any one of a foam, felt, or powder.

6. The invention of claim 5, further comprising activated carbon sandwiched between one or more layers of the foam, felt, or powder.

7. The invention of claim 1, further comprising mixing the graphene derivative material with a polymer.

8. The invention of claim 1, further comprising extruding the graphene derivative adsorbent material in a honeycomb design pattern to provide a plurality of channels for vapor flow through the scrubber.

9. The invention of claim 5, the graphene foam further comprising the graphene derivative material selected from any one of, but not limited to, monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and functionalized graphene.

10. The invention of claim 1, further comprising providing the graphene derivative with a loading concentration in the range of 0.1-60 wt%.

11. The invention of claim 7, the polymer further comprising a thermoplastic polymer selected from any one or more of polyurethane, polyester, polypropylene, nylon 6, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinylchloride.

12. The invention of claim 5, further comprising the graphene derivative adsorbent material in combination with any one of a lignocellulosic material or charcoal incorporated in the felt.

13. A canister and scrubber incorporated in an evaporative emissions control system for an automobile for reducing evaporative emissions, comprising:

the carbon canister includes a main housing and the scrubber includes separate housings, each housing containing an activated carbon material;

At least the main carbon tank housing further comprising one or more layers of any of foam, felt, or powder sandwiching the activated carbon material therebetween; and

The foam, felt or powder layer further comprises a graphene derivative adsorbent material that adsorbs vaporized hydrocarbons to prevent leakage emissions while also providing low flow restriction.

14. The invention of claim 13, further comprising the graphene derivative material being selected from, but not limited to, any one of monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and functionalized graphene.

15. The invention of claim 13, further comprising mixing the graphene derivative material with a polymer.

16. The invention of claim 13, further comprising extruding the graphene derivative adsorbent material in a honeycomb design pattern to provide a plurality of channels for vapor flow through the scrubber.

17. The invention of claim 13, further comprising providing the graphene derivative material with a loading concentration in the range of 0.1-60 wt%.

18. The invention of claim 15, the polymer further comprising a thermoplastic polymer selected from any one or more of polyurethane, polyester, polypropylene, nylon 6, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylene, terephthalate, polybutylene, polyphthalamide, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonate, and polyvinylchloride.

19. The invention of claim 13, further comprising the graphene derivative adsorbent material in combination with any one of a lignocellulosic material or charcoal incorporated in the felt layer.

20. A canister and scrubber incorporated in an evaporative emissions control system for an automobile for reducing evaporative emissions, comprising:

a main carbon canister housing and a separate scrubber housing, each housing containing an activated carbon material;

At least the main carbon tank housing further comprising one or more layers of any of a foam, felt, or powder sandwiching the activated carbon material therebetween, the foam, felt, or powder layers further comprising a graphene derivative adsorbent material that adsorbs vaporized hydrocarbons to prevent leakage emissions while also providing low flow restriction;

the graphene derivative material is selected from, but not limited to, any one of monolayer graphene, oligolayer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and functionalized graphene; and

The graphene derivative material is mixed with a polymer selected from any one or more of the following: polyurethanes, polyesters, polypropylenes, nylon 6, nylon-12, nylon-6, 12, polyethylenes, terephthalates, polybutylenes, polyphthalamides, polyoxymethylene, polycarbonates, and polyvinylchloride.