Column Design for Sorption Processes

Abstract

Basic concepts, including the role of equilibrium, stoichiometric, and rate relations on the performance of fixed, monovariant sorption beds are reviewed, with emphasis on simple, idealized, linear-driving force rate models. A novel method is presented for combining film- and particle-diffusion mechanisms. The number of variables involved is reduced by combination into dimensionless groups, and the types of column performance are illustrated by generalized time-distance plots with concentration contours. A method for deriving rate constants and mechanism parameters from an ionexchange isotherm and a constant-pattern effluent-concentration history is presented. Calculation methods are classified and outlined for the axis intercepts, the noncoherent, and the coherent portions of constant and proportional-pattern concentration contours. Column design is illustrated by example.