Optimizing spatial pore-size and porosity distributions of adsorbents for enhanced adsorption and desorption performance

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Optimizing spatial pore-size and porosity distributions of adsorbents for enhanced adsorption and desorption performance

Ye, G; Duan, X; Zhu, K; Zhou, X; Coppens, M-O; Yuan, W; (2015) Optimizing spatial pore-size and porosity distributions of adsorbents for enhanced adsorption and desorption performance. Chemical Engineering Science , 132 pp. 108-117. 10.1016/j.ces.2015.04.024. Green open access

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Abstract

This paper shows that a uniform spatial distribution in meso/macroporosity of adsorbents maximizes their adsorption and desorption performance. It highlights the importance of optimizing porosity and pore diameter, not only at the nanoscale but also at larger length scales. The effects of spatial pore size and porosity distributions on mass transfer in adsorbents are studied by using a continuum approach. These effects are evaluated by comparing the adsorption/desorption performance of adsorbents subjected to a square wave concentration perturbation with a wide range of cycle period (10-100,000. s) for the adsorption of n-pentane on 5A zeolite adsorbents. The uniformly distributed pore size and porosity is the preferred structure, which is confirmed by using four empirical tortuosity-porosity relations. Further optimization of the uniform structure shows that its optimal average porosity is in the range of 0.4-0.6 when the perturbation cycle period is between 100. s and 2000. s and the volume-averaged pore diameter is between 10. nm and 150. nm. The relationships between optimal average porosity, cycle period and volume-averaged pore diameter are determined and explained. These results should serve to guide the synthesis of adsorbents.

Type:	Article
Title:	Optimizing spatial pore-size and porosity distributions of adsorbents for enhanced adsorption and desorption performance
Open access status:	An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI:	10.1016/j.ces.2015.04.024
Publisher version:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2015.04.024
Language:	English
Additional information:	© 2015. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywords:	Adsorbent design, Adsorption/desorption performance, Continuum approach, Mass transfer, Optimal porosity, Spatial distributions
UCL classification:	UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
URI:	https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1469117