On the use of the adsorbed solution theory for designing adsorption separation units

Abstract

The reliable evaluation of multicomponent adsorption equilibria is one of the key problems in the design of adsorbers, which can be performed through the adsorbed solution theory. This model requires the accurate investigation of pure component equilibria at low-pressure values. Such experiments are not always easily done in practice. Thus, to minimize the experimental effort required to design industrial adsorbers, the sensitivity of the adsorbed solution theory results to the accuracy of the low-pressure experimental data and to the parameter estimation procedure should be reduced. In this article different approaches to the adsorbed solution theory are discussed, which are aimed to reduce its sensitivity and then the experimental effort related to the adsorber design procedure. A comparison between the results of the models and some experimental data are presented, and the main advantages and limitations of such approaches are discussed.