30b Experimental Study of Water and Ethanol Adsorption and Desorption in Adiabatic Fixed Bed on a-Type Zeolites

Marian Simo1, Siddharth Sivashanmugam1, Christopher J. Brown2, and Vladimir Hlavacek1. (1) Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, 303 Furnas Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, (2) Thermal Kinetics Systems, LLC, 667 Tifft Street, Buffalo, NY 14220

Kinetic study for water and ethanol adsorption-desorption process was carried out in near adiabatic fixed bed. The range of experimental conditions corresponded to those encountered in commercial fuel ethanol PSA process. Adsorption isotherms obtained from adsorbent manufacturer were compared with data from fixed bed runs. Several models for single components in inert carried were formulated. The validity of particular models was tested in numerical calculation. Mathematical model for pilot scale fixed bed assumed axially dispersed plug flow with variation of velocity, heat exchange between gas phase and solid matrix and negligible pressure drop. Experimental as well as numerical results will be presented and discussed.