Effects of adsorber configuration on breakthrough characteristic of the acetylene-helium system

Abstract

An adsorption isotherm of acetylene on a YAO activated carbon at 323 K has been determined from breakthrough curves of a packed column with 0.16 cm in diameter and 8.0 cm in length. The isotherm agrees with both Langmuir and Freudlich isotherms. With the velocity of 15 cm/s, the shape of the concentration profile has altered as an increase in the bed length from 2 cm to 10 cm. An increase in the feed concentration cause inverse variation of the profile because of the change in properties of acetylene-helium mixture and the shape of isotherm. While the particle size does not alter the shape of the profile. With the velocity of 5 cm/s, the constant shape of the profile can be achieved within the bed length of 4 cm and the effect of the feed concentration on the alteration of the profile, however, beccomes insignificant. The achievement of a constant shape of the concentration profile depends upon the mean residence time of an adsorbate in the bed of adsorbents.