Concentration-dependent micropore diffusion analysed by measuring laboratory adsorber dynamics—I. Study of the adsorber flow behaviour

✍ Scribed by R. Gutsche

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 758 KB
• Volume: 48
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(93)81029-u

✦ Synopsis

The flow behaviour of an isobaric laboratory adsorber is investigated. This investigation is the basis for a correct analysis of the concentration-dependent micropore diffusion as presented in Part II. Exit functions of the inactive adsorber (containing sorption inert particles) were measured as the response to non-ideal step functions. The experimental exit functions are well fitted by the dispersion as well as the series-of-stirred-tanks (SST) model. However, only the more time-consuming dispersion model is found to describe the real local mixing characteristics of the adsorber. This property of the flow model is necessary because the non-linear sorption dynamics are highly sensitive to variations in the local mixing states, even if these variations do not affect the exit function (residence-time distribution) of the inactive adsorber. A computation study reveals that this sensitivity is repealed by (I) measuring desorption (instead of adsorption) behaviour and (2) utilizing the short-bed technique. By implementing the latter conditions it is possible to use the simple and computer time-sparing SST model for the correct determination of the non-linear micropore diffusion mechanism.