(523b) Isotherm Modeling of C1 to C6 Hydrocarbons Adsorption Onto Activated Carbon and Comparison of Models

Industrial separation of hydrocarbon gaseous mixtures is important in the petroleum industries. Applications in separation or storage processes require knowledge of adsorption equilibria over wide pressure and temperature ranges is essential. In this work, we have studied hydrocarbon adsorption on activated carbon. The present work reports adsorption isotherms for methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, pentane and hexane on activated carbon at three different temperatures 293, 318 and 358 K over a wide range of pressures. The adsorption isotherms were measured by conducting several adsorption experiments using RubothermTM magnetic suspension balance (gravimetric measurement) that ensured high accuracy and resolution upto 10 µg. The experimental data was correlated/compared using Langmuir-Freundlich, Langmuir virial, Toth equation and Dubinin potential theory and also compared. A generalized characteristic curve was generated for C1 to C6 on activated carbon over entire experimental range of pressure and temperatures. The behavior of adsorption enthalpy will also be discussed.