Influence of the adsorbent particle size distribution on the adsorption parameters from stirred tank dynamic experiments
Advancing the chemical engineering fundamentals
Transport Phenomena in Porous/Granular Media (T2-7P)
Keywords: Modeling; mass transfer; adsorption kinetics; particle size distribution
J. A. Hernández a, J. O. Marroquin b, B. Castro b, G. C. Laredo b, J. A. Ochoa c
a Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, C. P. 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
b Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Programa de Tratamiento de Crudo Maya. Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 152, México. D. F. C. P. 07730 México.
c Área de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, México, D. F. CP 09340 México.
Abstract
The parameters that affect the separation of n-heptane from a binary mixture conformed of n-heptane and iso-octane, by adsorption in a microporous material called IMP-C12 are presented in this paper. The procedure involves a mass transfer model that considers a mean particle size calculated from the particle diameter distribution. Experimental adsorption curves of n-heptane were determined in a stirred tank by previously probed that iso-octane is not adsorbed by the IMP-C12. The system of nonlinear differential equations was solved by the finite differences method. The model reproduced with good accuracy (R2=0.99) the experimental adsorption kinetics with a determined mean particle size obtaining a Biot number and an intraparticle diffusivity coefficient. In order to predict the n-heptane adsorption kinetics and validate the model, solute transfer simulations were performed. The results (simulations and experimental kinetics test) were in good agreement provided that the process uses the same particle diameters distribution. The influence of the mean particle size in the adsorption kinetics was studied considering different particle diameters distribution. The results showed that particle size is essential to predict with good accuracy the adsorption curves, therefore it is extremely important to have a homogeneous (size and shape) particle distribution to determine adsorption kinetics.
See the full pdf manuscript of the abstract.
Presented Monday 17, 13:30 to 15:00, in session Transport Phenomena in Porous/Granular Media (T2-7P).
