INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ADSORPTION ON MODIFIED SILICA-GEL BY USING NEUTRON-FLUX IRRADIATION

Boron-doped silica gel was formulated successfully in this study. The silica gel was doped with boron-10 to enhance microscopic damage and/o r to increase micropore zones within the solid during neutron irradiat ion. As a result, the adsorbed amount per unit volume of silica gel in the adsorption-dehumidification systems was increased and the quantit y of regeneration heat needed was decreased. A novel equipment for mea suring breakthrough curves was built and utilized in the investigation . A computer real-time data acquisition system was designed for monito ring and recording the experimental data. A detailed description of th e technique and its utilization will be given in this study. The surfa ce properties of the modified adsorbents were measured by a BET sorpto meter. Under operating conditions of this study, the amount of moistur e adsorption by the modified adsorbent was increased by more than 23% of that of the commercial silica gel. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.