Adsorption on activated alumina. II — kinetic behaviour

Abstract

Abstract The kinetics of adsorption of water vapour, dimethyl ether, isobutylene, and methanol on activated alumina have been investigated by gravimetric uptake rate and breakthrough curve measurements. Intraparticle diffusivities were determined by matching the experimental response curves to appropriate theoretical models. At low concentration the kinetic‐behaviour is straightforward. The sorption rate is controlled by macropore diffusion with contributions from both the Knudsen and molecular mechanisms, depending on the conditions. For water vapour at higher pressures beyond the point of inflection of the isotherm there appears to be a significant contribution from surface diffusion.