DYNAMICS OF CARBON-DIOXIDE SORPTION ON ACTIVATED-CARBON PARTICLES

A theoretical model comprising the processes of micropore, macropore and surface diffusion was derived and applied to the dynamics of adsorption of CO2 on a single activated-carbon particle. The effects of a nonlinear isotherm (Langmuir), particle nonisothermality and concentration dependence of the surface diffusivity were also incorporated. The theoretical model was fitted to a preliminary set of adsorption experimental data (two particle sizes, and various temperatures and concentrations) to determine the diffusion coefficients. The validity of the theoretical model was checked by using the model, with fitted diffusivities, to simulate dynamic adsorption curves at conditions different from those of the preliminary fitting data set. These model simulations were found to predict the experimental data in a satisfactory manner.