GAS ADSORPTION

I N PA RT I A L F U L F I L L M E N T O F C H E L 1 ( A I R P O L L U T I O N )
REQUIREMENTS
B Y : PATA N I , A L A N D A V I D T.
 INTRODUCTION
• What is Gas Adsorption?
– Unit operation
– Components of a gas stream are adsorbed on adsorbent surface
• Working Principle
– Fluid is passed thru bed where solid particles adsorb component from liquid
– Saturated adsorbent is regenerated and reused in operation
– MASS-TRANSFER ZONE – region where most of the change in conc. occurs
• Applications
– Removal of H2S, CS2 and other odorous compounds from air
– Recovery of organic solvent of paints in air
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ADSORBENTS
• Adsorbents are:
Artificial and naturally occurring solids
w/ surface that adsorbs matter from solutions surrounding the adsorbent bed
• Properties dependent on:
* Chemical composition * Physical Surface Condition
* Degree of Porosity * Specific Surface Area
• Must have:
* High abrasion resistance * High thermal stability
* Small Pore Diameters * Distinct Pore Structure
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ADSORBENTS
• Three classes of Industrial Adsorbents:
– Oxygen-containing Compounds
• Hydrophilic and polar
• Ex: Silica Gel, Zeolites
– Carbon-based Compounds
• Hydrophobic and nonpolar
• Ex: Activated Carbon, Graphite
– Polymer-based Compounds
• Polar or nonpolar functional groups in a porous polymer matrix
EXAMPLES OF ADSORBENTS
• Activated Carbon
* Groundwater purification * Water purification of swimming pools
* De-chlorination of process water * Polishing of treated effluents
• Silica Gel
* Drying of process air * Adsorption of heavy hydrocarbons from nat. gas
• Activated Alumina
* Catalyst applications * Fluoride adsorbent
• Molecular Sieve Zeolytes
* Drying of process air * CO2 removal from nat. gas * Catalytic cracking
* Air Separation * CO removal from reforming gas * Catalytic synthesis
• FIXED BED ADSORPTION PRINCIPLES OF
ADSORPTION

- Unsteady-state process
- Concentrations in fluid phase and solid phase
change with time as well as w/ position in bed.
- Most of mass transfer occur near bed inlet
(where the fluid first contacts w/ adsorbent)
- After sometime, most of mass transfer occur
farther from inlet (since solid near inlet is satd)
• FLUIDIZED BED ADSORPTION PRINCIPLES OF
ADSORPTION
- Use of more complex moving adsorbent to
filter streams
- Achieved by inducing a stream velocity high
enough to suspend adsorbent particles
- Higher energy cost than fixed bed adsorbers
- Behavior is much harder to predict
- Require a larger chamber
- Usually implemented in high-volume industrial
applications
• MOVING BED ADSORPTION PRINCIPLES OF
ADSORPTION

- Adsorbent can be kept to a minimum

- Heat transfer is better than fixed beds
- More complex and expensive than fixed beds
- Attrition of adsorbent particles
APPLICATION OF GAS ADSORPTION TO
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
• Gaseous pollutants can include:
– Acid Gases (HCl, H2SO4, H2S, etc.)
– Inorganic Gases (SOx, NOx, NH3)
– Organic Gases (C2H4, C6H6, C2H5OH,VOCs and Hazardous Air Pollutants)

• Controlling Organic Emissions & Odors of the ff. Indus. Opns:

* Dry-cleaning * Degreasing * Surface Coating * Rubber Processing
 A P P L I C AT I O N O F
GAS ADSORPTION
• Consider a packed bed: TO A I R P O L L U T I O N
CONTROL

- Polluted air stream enters the packing.

- As stream passes through bed, adsorption of
contaminants take place (center) where there
is an exhaust distributor
- Purified air exits the packed bed.