Fixed-bed adsorption of carbon dioxide–helium, nitrogen–helium and carbon dioxide–nitrogen mixtures onto silicalite pellets

Abstract In this work, the fixed-bed adsorption of carbon dioxide and nitrogen on silicalite pellets has been studied. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetic measurements of carbon dioxide and nitrogen on this adsorbent at several temperatures have been performed, and the single adsorption equilibrium isotherms have been obtained for both adsorbates. A model based on the LDF approximation for the mass transfer, taking into account the energy and momentum balances, has been used to describe the adsorption kinetics of carbon dioxide and nitrogen as single components. The model reproduced satisfactorily the breakthrough curves obtained with carbon dioxide–nitrogen mixtures.