Adsorption dynamics and effects of carbon to zeolite ratio of layered beds for multicomponent gas adsorption

Abstract

To optimize the performance of an adsorption bed, layered beds of activated carbon and zeolite 5A are used for multicomponent gas separation (H-2: 72.2%, CO2: 21.6%, CO: 2.03%, CH4: 4.17%). The adsorption dynamic characteristics were studied experimentally and theoretically using layered beds of activated carbon and zeolite 5A at 8 atm adsorption pressure and 16.67 L/min feed rate. Non-isothermal and non-adiabatic models, based on a linear driving force model and Dual-Site Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, were used. As the carbon ratio increased, the average velocity of CH4 wavefront became slow, and wavefronts of CO and CO2 propagated quickly on average.