CONCENTRATION THERMAL SWING ADSORPTION PROCESS FOR SEPARATION OF BULK LIQUID-MIXTURES

A novel concentration-thermal swing adsorption process is described for separation of bulk binary liquid mixtures. The process is designed to produce essentially two pure products with high recoveries of both components. It is particularly suited for separation of azeotropic or close-boiling liquid mixtures which are difficult to separate by distillation. An example of the performance of the new process for separation of an azeotropic water-methyl acetate mixture is given. Experimental binary surface excess equilibrium isotherms, adsorptive mass transfer coefficients, and column dynamics for adsorption of water-methyl acetate mixtures on NaX zeolite are reported.