A Simple Method for the Determination of Adsorption Kinetic Parameters Using Recycle Fixed-Bed Adsorber

This study focuses on the development of a novel analysis technique for determining the intraparticle diffusivity \((D_{\mathrm{S}})\) and fluid film mass transfer coefficient \((k_\mathrm{F})\) from a concentration history curve of a recycle fixed-bed reactor without using the linear driving force approximation and empirical equations for the estimation of \(k_\mathrm{F}\). The recycle fixed-bed method requires lesser amounts of working fluid for experiment purposes, which is an advantage over the usual fixed-bed method. Based on the characterization results of the concentration history curves, simulated by rigorous numerical calculations, a novel analysis technique was established. The \(D_{\mathrm{S}}\) value can be determined from the experimentally obtained time at which the concentration of the curve is minimal \((t_{C\mathrm{min}})\). The \(k_\mathrm{F}\) value can be determined from the \(D_{\mathrm{S}}\) value and Biot number (Bi), which can be estimated from the experimental ratio of the maximum concentration to the minimum concentration \((c_{\max }/c_{\min })\). The \(D_{\mathrm{S}}\) and \(k_\mathrm{F}\) values of phenol adsorption on an activated carbon material were determined experimentally using the proposed analysis method. This method enables the determination of reliable adsorption kinetic parameters through a simple and economical experiment. However, appropriate experimental data must be acquired under regulated experimental conditions, especially in the case of fluctuation of the concentration history curve.