Diffusion and catalytic zero-order reaction in a macroreticular ion exchange resin

Abstract

The behavior of macroreticular ion exchange resins as catalysts is analyzed for the case of isothermal zero-order reactions. The particle is viewed as an ensemble of microspheres (gel phase) with a given fraction of active sites and macropores between those microspheres, where the remainder fraction of active sites is located. This study displays different situations concerning the annulment and nonannulment of reactant concentrations in the pores and/or inside the microspheres for different values of the governing parameters: pore and microsphere Thiele modulii and fraction of active sites on the pore walls. The overall effectiveness factor for the various situations is calculated once the micro and macroeffectiveness factors are known.