An analytical model for column adsorption with two competing contaminants
We develop a mathematical model to describe an adsorption process where two contaminants are simultaneously removed from a fluid mixture as it flows through a packed column. Both species compete to occupy the available sites, including displacing previously attached molecules. The system of governin...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/430237 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/430237 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2025.127004 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Column adsorption Multiple contaminants Advection–diffusion Mathematical model Travelling wave Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Matemàtiques i estadística::Anàlisi numèrica::Modelització matemàtica Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química |
| Sumario: | We develop a mathematical model to describe an adsorption process where two contaminants are simultaneously removed from a fluid mixture as it flows through a packed column. Both species compete to occupy the available sites, including displacing previously attached molecules. The system of governing equations involves mass balances for the two species coupled to an attachment model. In the common situation, where one contaminant is more strongly adsorbed than the other, the analysis may be split between two distinct regions — one where competition dominates the adsorption process and all of the first contaminant is eventually captured and a second region, ahead of the first, where only the weaker contaminant remains and so is able to be adsorbed without being displaced. In both regions, it is possible to find travelling waves which may be used to construct an analytical expression for the breakthrough curves. To verify this, a numerical solution is developed and compared with the approximate analytical solutions. The model results are then verified against experimental data for the capture of siloxanes, toluene and n-decane on activated carbon, obtaining excellent agreement with R^2 > 0.98 in the cases examined. |
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