Use of Wheeler–Jonas equation to explain xenon dynamic adsorption breakthrough curve on granular activated carbon

Abstract

The Wheeler–Jonas equation (WJ equation) is widely used to predict breakthrough of volatile organic compounds on granular activated carbon (GAC) and the most important criteria is to calculate the overall adsorption rate constant (k v ) and amount adsorbed based on breakthrough curve. The operational factors, including temperatures, concentrations and flow rates, for packed bed, can affect the values of k v more or less and to what degree has not yet been systematically investigated. What’s more, the relation between the dynamic adsorption coefficient (k d) or Henry constant, which is used for the design of packed bed, and WJ equation is not clear. In order to solve these problems, we performed xenon dynamic adsorption on GAC adsorber experiments under different values of xenon concentrations, flow rates and temperatures, obtained the breakthrough curves for elution times versus xenon concentrations, and then employed WJ equation to explain breakthrough curves. The experimental results indicate that the WJ equation can fit the breakthrough curve very well and k d be integrated into the WJ equation. The values of k v are proportional to the values of flow rates and k d, but independent of that of temperatures and xenon concentrations.