Effect of energy distribution on sorption kinetics in bidispersed particles

Abstract

Abstract In this article, we present a model to describe sorption kinetics of gaseous adsorbates onto bidispersed heterogeneous microporous particles. This model describes adsorption and desorption of gaseous adsorbates with allowance for the energy distribution of adsorption site for both equilibrium isotherm and diffusion of the adsorbed species. The adsorbed species of all energy level diffuse in two directions inside the particle. One direction is the direction along the particle coordinate while the other is the direction perpendicular to the particle coordinate (that is, the direction into the grain of the solid). This model is more fundamental than models previously proposed by Do and coworkers. Effects of energy distribution on the adsorption and desorption dynamics are investigated. Extensive experimental analysis of adsorption and desorption dynamics of ethane and propane onto Ajax activated carbon are carried out to validate this theory.