Practice Problems on Chapter 4
Constants:
R= 8314 J/(kmol.K) = 0.730 atm⋅ft3/(lbmol−1⋅°R−1) = 0.08206 L⋅atm/(K−1⋅mol−1)
Molecular weight of dry air = 29 g/mol
Problem 1
We want to adsorb benzene from an air stream containing 3 mol% benzene using silica gel (curve
B). Estimate the adsorbent capacity for benzene at 2.5 atm and 200 °F (=660 °R = 93.33 °C). The
density of benzene at 25 °C (= 77 °F) is 0.879 g/cm3. The normal boiling point of benzene is 80.1
°C (= 176.18 °F). The typical coefficient of thermal expansion for organic liquids (including
benzene) is 0.67×10-3 cm3/°F. The molecular weight of benzene is 78.11 g/mol. The Antoine
equation constants for benzene are: A = 4.72583, B = 1660.65, C = −1.461 °C. When using these
constants in Antoine equation, the temperature should be in K.
Note: the vapor pressure of benzene obtained from Antoine equation using the above constants
values is in bar.
Solution:
0.879 0.879
L' = −3
= −3
= 0.824 g / cm3
1 + 0.67 10 (Tb -Tactual ) 1 + 0.67 10 (176.18 − 77)
B 1660.65
log ( p sat ) = A − = 4.72583 − = 0.176376
C +T 366.48 + (−1.461)
p sat = 100.176376 = 1.50 bar = 1.48 atm
T L' f T L' p sat 660 0.824 1.48
Saturation parameter = log s = log = log = 5.0
1.8M f 1.8M yP 1.8 78.11 0.03 2.5
From the figure below:
100 w* 41 ' lb benzene
y-axis value = 15 w* = L = 0.124
L' 100 lb adsorbent
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Problem 2
Estimate the breakthrough time (i.e., when the outlet benzene concentration is 1% of the inlet) that
would be observed if we started with clean adsorbent. The external surface area per volume of this
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adsorbent is 500 ft2/ft3. The molecular weight of air and benzene are 29 and 78.11 lb/lbmol,
respectively. For air at 200 °F and 2.5 atm, µG= 2.145×10-5 kg/(m.s), and ρG = 2.408 kg/m3.
Benzene diffusivity (DG) in air at 200 °F and 2.5 atm = 4.90×10-6 m2/s. Assume that the adsorbent
is silica gel (curve B) with a bulk density of 750 kg/m3 and a particle diameter of 3.50 mm. Assume
a cylindrical adsorption column with bed height of 6.75 ft, column diameter of 5 ft, and void
fraction of 0.4. Take the air volumetric flowrate to the adsorbent bed and the adsorbent capacity
as 1160 ft3/min and 0.124 kg benzene/kg adsorbent, respectively.
Solution:
Molar flowrate of air:
•
1160 ft 3 2.595 lbmol
n = min 1000 ft 3 = 3.01 lbmol/min
• •
G = m = n 2G =
M 3.01 lbmol/min 29 lb/lbmol
= 4.444 lb/([Link] 2 ) = 0.362 kg /(s.m2 )
A D (5) 2
ft 2
4 4
G
2.145 10−5
ScG = = = 1.818
G DG 2.408 4.90 10−6
d pG 3.5 10−3 m 0.362 kg /(s.m 2 )
Re p = = = 59.1
G 2.145 10−5 kg / (m.s )
0.25Re−p0.31 0.25 59.1−0.31
jd = = = 0.1765
0.4
jd G 0.1765 0.362 kg /(s.m2 ) 1000 mol mol
kG = = = 0.5917
PM G ( ScG ) 2.5 atm 29 kg / kmol (1.818)
2/3 2/3
kmol atm.s.m2
5000 ft 2 3.28 ft kmol kg
3
0.5917 10−3 2
2.5 atm 29
a k PM G ft m atm.s. m kmol
a= v G = 2
G 0.362 kg /(s.m )
194.36 59.26
= =
m ft
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59.26
N = ax = 6.75 ft = 400.0
ft
ytol P ytol 0.03
c= = = = 0.243
Pw w 0.124
59.26 3.28 ft kg kg
0.243 0.362 2
78.11
caGM A ft m s.m kmol
b= =
B M G kg
750 3 29
kg
m kmol
0.061306
= = 220.7 / h
s
From the chart on the next page, at y-axis = 0.01 → bt ≈ 340
230
t = = 1.54 h
220.7
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