ChE 126 SEPARATION
PROCESSES
MODULE 4 -ADSORPTION
ADSORPTION
An operation whereby specific components of fluid phase
(gas/liquid) are preferentially adhered to the surfaces of the
solid.
Theory and Equations
ADSORPTION- concentration of a substance on the surface of a
solid or liquid
The substance attracted to a surface is the adsorbed phase,
while the substance to which it is attached is the adsorbent
Freundlich equation:
The Freundlich equation or Freundlich adsorption isotherm, an adsorption
isotherm, is an empirical relationship between the quantity of a gas
adsorbed into a solid surface and the gas pressure.
The 1/n value derived from the Freundlich equation serves to describe the
linearity of adsorption or alternatively the degree of curvature of
the isotherms.
Adsorption isotherm – the relation between the amount of substance adsorbed by
an adsorbent and the equilibrium pressure or concentration at constant temperature
Gases – adsorbed phase
Solid – adsorbent
Adsorption of Gases by Solids
factors determining the amount of a gas adsorbed by a solid
1. Nature of the adsorbent (solid) and the gas being adsorbed
2. Area of the adsorbent (solid)
3. Temperature of the gas
4. Pressure of the gas
Note: Gases that liquefy easily are readily adsorbed
Types of Adsorption
1. Physical or Van der Waal’s Adsorption
occurs when the intermolecular forces of attraction
between the fluid molecules and the solid surface are greater
than the attractive forces between the molecules of the fluid
itself. Fluid molecules adhere to the surface of the solid
adsorbent. The forces responsible for the adsorption are of the
same kind as those involved in the deviation of gases from
ideal behavior and in liquefaction, i.e Van der Waal’s forces
- characterized by low heats of adsorption
2. Chemical or Activated Adsorption
involves chemical interaction between the adsorbed fluid and the adsorbent
solid. Frequently, the adsorption is irreversible and it is difficult to separate the
adsorbate from the adsorbent. Hence, only physical adsorption tends itself to
continuous stagewise operation.
Adsorption Operations (One-Component Adsorption)
I. Single Stage Operation
Material Balance on adsorbate
Since
II. Two Stage Co-Current Process
( ) ( )
1
Y1 1
Y2 n
X1=
n
X 2=
m m
The first stage and second stage operating lines are
Problem 1. 50 parts of copperas and lime per million parts of dyehouse effluent
removes 50% of the color. How much will be required to reduce the color to 5%
if n = 8.5?
Given:
2nd condition:
L0
X0
V1
V0 Y1=0.5Y0
Y0
X1=
Problem 2. Water contains organic color which is to be extracted with alum and lime. Five parts of
alum and lime per million parts of water will reduce the color to 25% of the original color and 10 parts
will reduce the color to 3.5%. Estimate how much alum and lime as parts per million are required to
reduce the color to 0.5% of the original color.
Given:
1st condition:
(eqn 1)
(eqn 2)
Eqn (1) = eqn (2)
2nd condition:
Problem 3. In bleaching or removal of coloring substance of material such as
coconut oil or sugar, decolorizing agents such as activated carbon is used.
Bleaching can be carried out in a single pass, or multipass or other methods. If
80% of the color is removed in a single stage decolorization with 4% activated
carbon, how much activated carbon will be needed to remove the same
amount of color in a 2-stage counter current decolorization if n=2?
Given:
Consider single stage: n=2
2nd condition: expect mass adsorbent to be less than 4% (for 2-stage counter
current system)
; *
;
Adsorption Isotherm:
Types I V – Adsorption isotherm
Chemical/Activated adsorption: Type I adsorption isotherm
Physical adsorption: Types I V
FREUNDLICH EQUATION:
Where:
x = amount adsorbed
m = amount of adsorbent
P = pressure
n & k = constants - depend on the nature of the adsorbent and the gas at a
particular temperature.
Plotting (forms a straight line)
LANGMUIR EQUATION
Plot line
Slope: intercept:
TYPES II – V ISOTHERMS
Plot:
Slope:
Practice exercises will be uploaded in our g classroom.
• References:
Geankoplis, C. J. (1983). Transport processes and unit operations. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
McCabe, W. L., Smith, J.C., and Harriott, P. (2006) Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering,
7th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, Inc.
Olaño, S. (2000), Reviewer for Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination, Manila Review
Institute, Inc., Manila
