Mass Transfer 2

CPB 20104

CPB 20104 MASS TRANSFER 2

TUTORIAL 4
ADSORPTION OPERATIONS
1. Determine the final equilibrium values of the final solution if a solution
of glucose with an initial solution of 20 cm3 containing 0.08 g/cm3 is
treated with 115 g alumina. The adsorption isotherm at 25oC for the
system is given below.
Concentration of glucose in
solution at equilibrium, Ce
(g/cm3)
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18
0.20

Table 1
Adsorbed weight of glucose on
alumina at equilibrium, qe
(g glucose/g alumina)
0.0078
0.0101
0.0112
0.0119
0.0124
0.0127
0.0129
0.0131
0.0132
0.0133

2. In a batch adsorption experiment, several samples of water contaminated

with different concentrations of phenol were treated with activated
carbon at 25oC. Each 1 litre sample of contaminated water was
thoroughly mixed with 2.0 g of the activated carbon until equilibrium is
reached. The initial and final concentrations of phenol were measured
thereafter. The results obtained were shown in Table 3.
a)

Using the above data, plot the adsorption isotherm for the system
phenol/activated carbon.

b)

If the data could be assumed to fit the Langmuir isotherm,

estimate the constants, Qo and KL in the Langmuir isotherm for
this case.

c)

Estimate the final concentration of phenol after 1250 ml of water

having concentration of 0.12 g phenol/litre is treated with 2.0 g of
activated carbon.

FG/T4/July2011

Mass Transfer 2

CPB 20104

Table 3
Initial concentration, Co
(g phenol/litre solution)
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05

Final concentration, Ce
(g phenol/litre solution)
0.085
0.050
0.025
0.010

3. Equilibrium isotherm data for adsorption of glucose from an aqueous

solution to activated alumina are as follows:
Concentration,C (g/cm3)
0.004
0.009
0.019
0.027
0.094
0.195

Table 2
Adsorbate uptake, q (g/g)
0.026
0.053
0.075
0.082
0.123
0.129

By using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, determine the isotherm

that fits the data and calculate the constants of the equation that fits the
isotherm.
4. A solution containing 0.2 g of glucose/cm3 is passed through packed bed
of alumina at a flow rate of 10 cm3/s. The breakpoint concentration is set
at C/Co = 0.01. The breakthrough curve data obtained are given in Table
4.
Table 4
Concentration at the outlet (C)
(g of glucose/cm3)
0
0
0
0.01
0.025
0.05
0.07
0.1
0.13
0.15
0.175
0.19
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2

t (min)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
140
160
180

FG/T4/July2011

Mass Transfer 2

CPB 20104

Estimate the breakpoint time, the total capacity of the bed used at
breakpoint and the fraction of unused bed to the breakpoint.
5. A waste stream of alcohol vapor in air from a process was adsorbed by
activated carbon particles in a packed bed having a diameter of 4 cm and
length of 14 cm containing 79.2 g of carbon. The inlet gas stream having
a concentration of 600 ppm and a density of 0.00115 g/cm3 entered the
bed at a flow rate of 754 cm3/s. Data in Table 5 give the concentrations
of breakthrough curve. The break point concentration is set at C/Co =
0.01.
Table 5
Time, hr
0
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.2
6.5
6.8

C/Co
0
0
0.002
0.030
0.155
0.396
0.658
0.903
0.933
0.975
0.993

a) Determine the breakpoint time, the fraction of total capacity used up

to the breakpoint and the length of the unused bed.
b) If the breakpoint time required for a new column is 6.0 hr, calculate
the new total length of the column required.

FG/T4/July2011