Equilibrium and Fixed‐Bed Adsorption of n‐Hexane on Activated Carbon

Abstract

Equilibrium and fixed‐bed adsorption of n‐hexane on pelletized activated carbon (SLG‐2PS) was studied between 298.15°K and 318.15°K. Equilibrium data was obtained in a gravimetric method. Adsorption isotherms were predicted by various model equations. Based on a comprehensive comparison of various single component isotherm models, the Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm was found to provide the best fit overall for the adsorption of the adsorbates on activated carbon. Their results could also be used to simulate the adsorption and temperature experimental data. A simple mathematical model was developed to calculate the concentration and temperature curves for the fixed bed adsorber. Model parameters were estimated from experiments and from correlations available in the literature. The mathematical model provides a good representation of the experimentally observed behavior of the breakthrough curves and temperature curves for n‐hexane on activated carbon.

Acknowledgment

This work was partially supported by grant No. [R‐01‐2001‐000‐00414‐0 (2002)] from the Korea Science & Engineering Foundation.