Adsorption of toluene on activated carbon in a packed bed

A simulation of the performance of an activated carbon packed-bed system for adsorption of toluene from air is performed. For a non-switched operation the time-varying exit toluene concentration of a 30 mm-depth bed is measured. The simulation result is compared with the measured data. The computer analysis is based on a modified solid-side resistance model which was originally proposed by Pesaran and Mills. The effects of cycle operating time, regeneration temperature and Ntu on the adsorption performance are investigated. The maximum removal and the corresponding optimum cycle time are obtained. The influence of the number of grid points on the accuracy of the numerical scheme is discussed. The effects of tortuosity factor and transfer coefficients on the adsorption are investigated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.