Simulation Study of the Liquid–Solid Multistage Adsorption Process

Abstract

In the present study, a computational model to simulate the separation of the multi-stage device is developed and used to verify an arbitrary-shaped adsorption isotherm and a limited mass transfer rate. The model’s governing equations are solved numerically by the MATLAB computing platform. For a specific separation, a suitable design must take into account the concentration record of the effluent solutions in the separation device. Further, since the experimental investigation has many limitations, an accurate mathematical description of a system could be viewed as an alternative approach to understanding it comprehensively. The usefulness of the simulation code depends heavily on how well it matches the experimental results and predicts them with minor adjustments and improvements. Here, the model is validated and used to investigate how changing the system’s parameters can affect its performance. The study found that increasing the size of the system (unit number and pore volume of the adsorbent) resulted in more solutions. Adsorption effectiveness was also investigated and it was found to be relatively unaffected by dividing the total amount of solution adsorption over many units, as long as slurrying was maintained at an adequate level. The model not only provides the prediction of the discharge concentration record but also the evaluation of the separation effectiveness attained by the multistage device.