Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling of Breakthrough Curves for Adsorption of Propane, n-Butane, and Iso-Butane Mixture on 5A Molecular Sieve Zeolite

  • Published:
Transport in Porous Media Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Breakthrough curves for the adsorption of propane, n-butane, and iso-butane mixture on 5A molecular sieve zeolite were obtained experimentally and theoretically at a constant temperature of 301 K. The equilibrium model and linear driving force model were used to predict the experimental breakthrough curves for this multicomponent mixture. The equilibrium model gave a satisfactory fit for experimental data. The model equations were solved by a numerical method based on backward finite difference with a fixed griding technique. The effects of feed flow rate (0.552–3.496 l/min), feed concentration (60.72–141.68 mmol/l), and adsorbates composition (58.75–75.32%) on these breakthrough curves were examined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

C I :

Feed or influent gas phase concentration (mmol/l)

C E :

Product or effluent gas phase concentration (mmol/l)

K i , K ij :

Extended Freundlich equation coefficients

K G :

Mass transfer parameter in linear driving force model (1/min)

n i , n ii , n ij :

Extended Freundlich equation parameters

q :

Adsorbed phase concentration (mmol/g)

u s :

Superficial gas velocity (cm/min)

t :

Time (min)

z :

Axial coordinate (distance from the bed inlet) (cm)

ε o :

Over all bed void fraction

ρ b :

Bed density (g/l)

Δq :

Increment of adsorbed phase concentration (mmol/g)

Δt :

Increment of time

Δz :

Increment of distance

i :

Component i

j :

Component j

n :

Component n

References

  • Arumngam B.K., Banks J.F., Wankat P.C.: Pressure effects in adsorption system. Adsorption 5(3), 261–278 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chou C., Chen C.: Carbon dioxide recovery by vacuum swing adsorption. Sep. Purif. Technol. 39, 51–65 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooney D.O.: The importance of axial dispersion in liquid-phase fixed-bed adsorption operations. Chem. Eng. Commun. 110, 217–231 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dexin Z., Youfan G.: Prediction of breakthrough curves in the system of CH4, C2H6, and CO2 coadsorption on 4A molecular sieve gas. Sep. Purif. Technol. 2(1), 28–33 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Do D.D., Do D.H.: Non-isothermal effects on adsorption kinetics of hydrocarbons mixtures in activated carbon. Sep. Purif. Technol. 20, 49–65 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grande C.A., Silva V.M., Gigola C., Rodrigues A.E: Adsorption of propane and propylene onto carbon molecular sieve. Carbon 41(13), 2533–2545 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu X., Qiao S., Do D.D.: Multi component adsorption kinetics of gases in activated carbon: effect of pore size distribution. Langmuir 15(19), 6428–6437 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joly A., Perrard A.: Linear driving force models for dynamic adsorption of volatile organic compounds traces by porous adsorbent beds. Math. Comput. Simul. 79, 3492–3499 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karge H.G., Weitkamp J.: Molecular Sieves, Science and Technology: Adsorption and Diffusion, vol. 8. Springer, Berlin (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miltenburg A., Gascon J., Zhu W., Kapteihn F.: Propylene/propane mixture adsorption on Faujasite sorbents. Adsorption 14(2), 309–321 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasetyo I., Do D.D.: Adsorption kinetics of light paraffins in AC by a constant molar flow rate method. AICHE J. 45(9), 1892–1900 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruthven D.M., Reyes S.C.: Adsorptive separation of light olefins from paraffins. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 104, 59–66 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruthven D.M., Loughlin K.F., Derrah R.I.: Sorption and diffusion of light hydrocarbons and other simple nonpolar molecules in type 5A zeolites. Adv. Chem. Ser. 121, 330 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sankararao B., Gupta S.K.: Modeling and simulation of fixed bed adsorbers (FBAs) for multi-component gaseous separations. Comput. Chem. Eng. 31(10), 1282–1295 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor, Malaysia

    Muthanna J. Ahmed & Abdul Amir H. Kadhum

  2. Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Abdul Halim A. K. Mohammed

Authors
  1. Muthanna J. Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdul Halim A. K. Mohammed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdul Amir H. Kadhum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Muthanna J. Ahmed.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahmed, M.J., Mohammed, A.H.A.K. & Kadhum, A.A.H. Modeling of Breakthrough Curves for Adsorption of Propane, n-Butane, and Iso-Butane Mixture on 5A Molecular Sieve Zeolite. Transp Porous Med 86, 215–228 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-010-9617-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11242-010-9617-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation