The development of a new LDF mass transfer correlation for adsorption in fixed beds

In this study, a general LDF model has been introduced to predict mass transfer rate through adsorbents with the macropore diffusion as the controlling step. Using this relation eliminates the need for solving the time-consuming diffusion equation to find mass transfer rate through the porous adsorbent. The proposed relation was successfully applied in the general mathematical model for an adsorption fixed bed. This correlation was adjusted to be capable of predicting the mass transfer rate in a wide range of gas adsorption systems reported in the literature. This correlation was used in 21 different adsorbent and adsorbate systems. The results demonstrated an excellent agreement between the correlation results and those obtained using Fickian diffusion equation. By applying the developed LDF model instead of diffusion model, a great deal of CPU time can be saved. The latter characteristic will be very important when this model is employed in commercial software such as Aspen Adsorption or Prosim Dynamic Adsorption Column.