FAST FINITE-DIFFERENCE METHOD FOR SOLVING MULTICOMPONENT ADSORPTION-CHROMATOGRAPHY MODELS

A model for adsorption dynamics ina chromatography column including a mass balance equation in mobile fluid and solid phases, and equation f or fluid velocity variation is given. In order to obtain concentration profiles for multicomponent systems, the model has been solved using a finite difference method. Time and accuracy of computation are compa red with the results obtained from an orthogonal collection on the fin ite elements method. The comparison shows that the band profiles and b reakthrough curves derived using the procedure based on the finite dif ference method are a little less accurate, but this is compensated by a considerably lower computation time. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd