MINIMUM BED LENGTH TO OBTAIN "CONSTANT PATTERN" IN BI-COMPONENT FIXED-BED ADSORPTION

Abstract

A simple analytical solution is proposed to predict the minimum bed length, Z_min, necessary to make two adsorption zones in bi-component fixed-bed adsorption separate from each other, by use of the so-called constant pattern concept and the linear driving force approximation. Values of Z_min obtained from the analytical solution were compared with those from numerical breakthrough curves based on a rather rigorous mass balance as well as diffusion equations. The solution was found to be accurate enough. Experiments were performed for two monohydric alcohols-activated carbon and two monocarboxylic acids-activated carbon systems, respectively. Comparison of the predicted Z_min based on the proposed equation gave larger values than the experimental values.