Adsorption dynamics of ethane from air in structured fixed beds with different microfibrous composites

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2021.11.009

Abstract

Abstract: Adsorption dynamics of ethane in two granular fixed beds and structured fixed beds with microfibrous composites was studied. 5A zeolite membrane 5A/PSSF (paper-like sintered stainless steel fiber) and microfibrous entrapped activated carbon (MEAC) composites were prepared by wet layup papermaking/sintering technique and in-situ hydrothermal method. Microfibrous composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and N₂ adsorption/desorption. Structured fixed beds were designed by filling granular adsorbents (5A zeolite or activated carbon) and microfibrous composites at the inlet and outlet of the beds, respectively. Effects of flow rate, bed height and structure on the breakthrough curves were investigated. The length of unused bed (LUB) was determined, and Yoon–Nelson model was used to fit the breakthrough curves. The experimental results showed ethane was effectively adsorbed on the granular adsorbents and microfibrous composites. Both composites could decrease the LUB values and enhance bed utilization. All breakthrough curves fitted well to Yoon–Nelson model, with correlation coefficient exceeding 0.89. The adsorption rate of ethane could be improved in the structured fixed beds, which showed an enhanced mass transfer efficiency for ethane adsorption. LUB values of structured fixed beds with 5A/PSSF composites were larger, the bed utilization values were lower, and the adsorption rate constants were higher than those with MEAC composites under the same conditions.

Key words: 5A zeolite membrane, Microfibrous entrapped activated carbon, Ethane, Structured fixed bed, Adsorption dynamics

摘要： Adsorption dynamics of ethane in two granular fixed beds and structured fixed beds with microfibrous composites was studied. 5A zeolite membrane 5A/PSSF (paper-like sintered stainless steel fiber) and microfibrous entrapped activated carbon (MEAC) composites were prepared by wet layup papermaking/sintering technique and in-situ hydrothermal method. Microfibrous composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and N₂ adsorption/desorption. Structured fixed beds were designed by filling granular adsorbents (5A zeolite or activated carbon) and microfibrous composites at the inlet and outlet of the beds, respectively. Effects of flow rate, bed height and structure on the breakthrough curves were investigated. The length of unused bed (LUB) was determined, and Yoon–Nelson model was used to fit the breakthrough curves. The experimental results showed ethane was effectively adsorbed on the granular adsorbents and microfibrous composites. Both composites could decrease the LUB values and enhance bed utilization. All breakthrough curves fitted well to Yoon–Nelson model, with correlation coefficient exceeding 0.89. The adsorption rate of ethane could be improved in the structured fixed beds, which showed an enhanced mass transfer efficiency for ethane adsorption. LUB values of structured fixed beds with 5A/PSSF composites were larger, the bed utilization values were lower, and the adsorption rate constants were higher than those with MEAC composites under the same conditions.

关键词: 5A zeolite membrane, Microfibrous entrapped activated carbon, Ethane, Structured fixed bed, Adsorption dynamics

Huan Xiang, Huiping Zhang, Pengfei Liu, Ying Yan. Adsorption dynamics of ethane from air in structured fixed beds with different microfibrous composites[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2023, 53(1): 14-24.

Huan Xiang, Huiping Zhang, Pengfei Liu, Ying Yan. Adsorption dynamics of ethane from air in structured fixed beds with different microfibrous composites[J]. 中国化学工程学报, 2023, 53(1): 14-24.

References

[1] F.I. Khan, A. K. Ghoshal, Removal of volatile organic compounds from polluted air, J. Loss Prev. Process. Ind. 13 (6) (2000) 527–545.
[2] Q. Hu, J.J. Li, Z.P. Hao, L.D. Li, S.Z. Qiao, Dynamic adsorption of volatile organic compounds on organofunctionalized SBA-15 materials, Chem. Eng. J. 149 (1–3) (2009) 281–288.
[3] M.S. Li, S.C. Wu, Y.H. Shih, Characterization of volatile organic compound adsorption on multiwall carbon nanotubes under different levels of relative humidity using linear solvation energy relationship, J. Hazard. Mater. 315 (2016) 35–41.
[4] B.E. Solsona, T. Garcia, C. Jones, S.H. Taylor, A.F. Carley, G.J. Hutchings, Supported gold catalysts for the total oxidation of alkanes and carbon monoxide, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 312 (2006) 67–76.
[5] D. Helmig, S. Rossabi, J. Hueber, P. Tans, S.A. Montzka, K. Masarie, K. Thoning, C. Plass-Duelmer, A. Claude, L.J. Carpenter, A.C. Lewis, S. Punjabi, S. Reimann, M.K. Vollmer, R. Steinbrecher, J.W. Hannigan, L.K. Emmons, E. Mahieu, B. Franco, D. Smale, A. Pozzer, Reversal of global atmospheric ethane and propane trends largely due to US oil and natural gas production, Nat. Geosci. 9 (7) (2016) 490–495.
[6] A.B. Hansen, F. Palmgren, VOC air pollutants in Copenhagen, Sci. Total Environ. 189-190 (1996) 451–457.
[7] U. Bedi, S. Chauhan, Modeling the combustion of volatile organic compound (VOC) ethane in monolithic catalytic converter, Mater. Today: Proc. 28 (2020) 1727–1731.
[8] S.F. Tahir, C.A. Koh, Catalytic oxidation of ethane over supported metal oxide catalysts, Chemosphere 34 (8) (1997) 1787–1793.
[9] R.S. Pillai, I. Khan, E. Titus, C₂-hydrocarbon adsorption in nano-porous faujasite: A DFT study, Mater. Today: Proc. 2 (1) (2015) 436–445.
[10] M.C. Campo, A.M. Ribeiro, A.F.P. Ferreira, J.C. Santos, C. Lutz, J.M. Loureiro, A.E. Rodrigues, Carbon dioxide removal for methane upgrade by a VSA process using an improved 13X zeolite, Fuel Process. Technol. 143 (2016) 185–194.
[11] B. Ozturk, D. Yilmaz, Absorptive removal of volatile organic compounds from flue gas streams, Process. Saf. Environ. Prot. 84 (5) (2006) 391–398.
[12] S. Yun, H. Lee, W.E. Lee, H.S. Park, Multiscale textured, ultralight graphene monoliths for enhanced CO₂ and SO₂ adsorption capacity, Fuel 174 (2016) 36–42.
[13] S.P. Deosarkar, V.G. Pangarkar, Adsorptive separation and recovery of organics from PHBA and SA plant effluents, Sep. Purif. Technol. 38 (3) (2004) 241–254.
[14] R.T. Yang, Adsorbents: Fundamentals and Applications, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2003.
[15] M. Clausse, J. Bonjour, F. Meunier, Influence of the presence of CO₂ in the feed of an indirect heating TSA process for VOC removal, Adsorption 9 (1) (2003) 77–85.
[16] B. Puértolas, M.V. Navarro, J.M. Lopez, R. Murillo, A.M. Mastral, T. Garcia, Modelling the heat and mass transfers of propane onto a ZSM-5 zeolite, Sep. Purif. Technol. 86 (2012) 127–136.
[17] D.K. Harris, D.R. Cahela, B.J. Tatarchuk, Wet layup and sintering of metal-containing microfibrous composites for chemical processing opportunities, Compos. Part A: Appl. Sci. Manuf. 32 (8) (2001) 1117–1126.
[18] Y.J. Wang, Y. Tang, X.D. Wang, W. Shan, C. Ke, Z. Gao, J.H. Hu, W.L. Yang, Fabrication of zeolite coatings on stainless steel grids, J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 20 (23) (2001) 2091–2094.
[19] E. Reichelt, M.P. Heddrich, M. Jahn, A. Michaelis, Fiber based structured materials for catalytic applications, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 476 (2014) 78–90.
[20] Y. Yang, H.P. Zhang, Y. Yan, Synthesis of CNTs on stainless steel microfibrous composite by CVD: Effect of synthesis condition on carbon nanotube growth and structure, Compos.B: Eng. 160 (2019) 369–383.
[21] K. Nikolajsen, L. Kiwi-Minsker, A. Renken, Structured fixed-bed adsorber based on zeolite/sintered metal fibre for low concentration VOC removal, Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 84 (7) (2006) 562–568.
[22] H.H. Chen, H.P. Zhang, Y. Yan, Preparation and characterization of a novel gradient porous ZSM-5 zeolite membrane/PSSF composite and its application for toluene adsorption, Chem. Eng. J. 209 (2012) 372–378.
[23] H.H. Chen, H.P. Zhang, Y. Yan, Novel gradient porous ZSM-5 zeolite membrane/PSSF composite for enhancing mass transfer of isopropanol adsorption in a structured fixed bed, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 51(51) (2012) 16643–16650.
[24] R.R. Kalluri, Microfibrous entrapped catalysts and sorbents: Microstructured heterogeneous contacting systems with enhanced efficiency, Ph.D.Thesis,Auburn University, USA, 2008.
[25] A.S. Huang, F.Y. Liang, F. Steinbach, J. Caro, Preparation and separation properties of LTA membranes by using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as covalent linker, J. Membr. Sci. 350 (1–2) (2010) 5–9.
[26] A.S. Huang, Q. Liu, N.Y. Wang, X. Tong, B.X. Huang, M. Wang, J. Caro, Covalent synthesis of dense zeolite LTA membranes on various 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane functionalized supports, J. Membr. Sci. 437 (2013) 57–64.
[27] Y. Yang, K. Yuen Koh, R.Y. Li, H.P. Zhang, Y. Yan, J.P. Chen, An innovative lanthanum carbonate grafted microfibrous composite for phosphate adsorption in wastewater, J. Hazard. Mater. 392 (2020) 121952.
[28] D. Zhang, H.P. Zhang, Y. Yan, Synthesis of 5A zeolite coating/PSSF composites and the application for adsorption of methane from air, RSC Adv. 5 (68) (2015) 54913–54919.
[29] J. Liu, Y. Yan, H.P. Zhang, Adsorption dynamics of toluene in composite bed with microfibrous entrapped activated carbon, Chem. Eng. J. 173 (2) (2011) 456–462.
[30] J. Liu, Y. Yan, H.P. Zhang, Preparation of microfibrous entrapped activated carbon composites and its application for benzene adsorption, Sep. Sci. Technol. 49 (13) (2014) 2016–2024.
[31] J. Collins, The LUB/equilibrium section concept for fixed-bed adsorption, Chem. Eng. Prog. Symp. Ser. 63 (1967) 31-35.
[32] B. Salamatinia, A.H. Kamaruddin, A.Z. Abdullah, Modeling of the continuous copper and zinc removal by sorption onto sodium hydroxide-modified oil palm frond in a fixed-bed column, Chem. Eng. J. 145 (2) (2008) 259–266.
[33] W. Tsai, C. Chang, C. Ho, L. Chen, Adsorption properties and breakthrough model of 1, 1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane on activated carbons, J. Hazard. Mater. 69 (1) (1999) 53–66.
[34] Z. Aksu, F. Gönen, Biosorption of phenol by immobilized activated sludge in a continuous packed bed: prediction of breakthrough curves, Process. Biochem. 39 (5) (2004) 599–613.
[35] B. Cheknane, M. Baudu, J.P. Basly, O. Bouras, F. Zermane, Modeling of basic green 4 dynamic sorption onto granular organo–inorgano pillared clays (GOICs) in column reactor, Chem. Eng. J. 209 (2012) 7–12.
[36] L. Chen, Y.W. Wang, M.Y. He, Q. Chen, Z.H. Zhang, Facile synthesis of 5A zeolite from attapulgite clay for adsorption of n-paraffins, Adsorption 22 (3) (2016) 309–314.
[37] Y. Yan, S.S. Jiang, H.P. Zhang, X.Y. Zhang, Preparation of novel Fe-ZSM-5 zeolite membrane catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol in a membrane reactor, Chem. Eng. J. 259 (2015) 243–251.