Measurement of Adsorption Dynamics Using the Thermal Frequency Response Method

Abstract

This paper presents a thermal frequency response method for the measurement of adsorption dynamics in adsorbent particles. This method uses simultaneously the frequency response of the gas pressure and the adsorbent temperature. Theoretical models are developed for both homogeneous crystals and biporous pellets with the consideration of major heat and mass transfer processes. It is shown that the temperature frequency response exhibits a significantly higher sensitivity to the nature of transfer mechanisms than the pressure frequency response, in particular for biporous pellets. It is also shown that the effect of heating by gas compression on the frequency response may be significant and this effect on the pressure response can be significantly reduced by correcting the data with respect to blank experiments. Experimental results for diffusion of water in NaX crystals and pellets are presented.