ADSORPTION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS (VOC) MIXTURES ONTO ACTIVATED CARBON - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY AND SIMULATION OF MULTICOMPONENT ADSORPTION

In the present study, a simple mathematical model has been developed t o simulate multicomponent fixed bed adsorption. The Linear Driving For ce model is used to describe the intraparticle mass transfer. The comp etitive effect is accounted for through the multicomponent adsorption isotherm. This multicomponent equilibrium is described by the Ideal Ad sorbed Solution Theory (IAST). To apply this theory, pure component ad sorption isotherm data are represented by the Freundlich equation on a piecewise basis. For the prediction, operating conditions (flow rates , bed depths, input concentrations) and some characteristics of activa ted carbon must be known. It is also necessary to have pure component isotherm data. To demonstrate the applicability of the model, fixed be d experiments were carried out using a ternary mixture, containing met hylethylketone, ethylene chloride, methylene chloride. A good agreemen t between calculations and experiments was obtained.