Robust design of countercurrent adsorption separation processes .4. Desorbent in the feed

In many instances of practical interest, countercurrent adsorption separations operate on feed streams containing not only the components to be separated but also some desorbent. Criteria for the optimal and robust design and operation of these units are developed by extending previous treatments developed for desorbent-free feedstreams. The effect of the presence of some desorbent (weak, intermediate, or strong) on the location and robustness of the region of complete separation in the operating parameter space is discussed.