Modeling of Adsorptive Drying of N-Propanol

Abstract

On the basis of experimental work connected with mathematical modeling, a parameter analysis was conducted on the adsorptive drying of water-miscible organic liquids. The experimental work involved dehydration of n-propanol using two desiccants, 3A and 4A zeolite molecular sieves. The equilibrium relationship and fixed bed breakthrough curves were determined experimentally. The parameters required by the model are the equilibrium constants, liquid film mass transfer coefficient, intraparticle diffusion coefficient, and axial diffusivity. A linear driving force (LDF) relation was applied to represent the mass transfer rate in the particle liquid film and inside the adsorbent particle. The fit of the model to experimental breakthrough data was quite good.

Keywords:

• Fixed bed adsorption
• Liquid drying
• Mathematical modeling
• Molecular sieves
• Solid desiccant

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education under project No. N N209 254938.