The simulation of binary adsorption in continuous countercurrent operation and a comparison with other operating modes

Abstract

AbstractSimulation studies are presented of three different modes of operating a two‐component adsorption system. The efficiency with which an activated carbon adsorbent is utilized is compared for a single fixed bed, a periodic countercurrent system in which the adsorbent is equally distributed over two, four, and six beds and a continuous countercurrent system. The carbon utilization in the single fixed bed was shown to be one third to one half of that in a continuous countercurrent adsorber of the same length, whereas the periodic countercurrent system achieved a utilization of 79 to 98% of that in the continuous system.The mathematical models used to describe the three different modes of column operation include the effects of axial diffusion in the columns, mass transfer resistance in the boundary layer surrounding each particle, and fluid diffusion within the porous particles.