Adsorption Equilibrium and Kinetics of the Parex' Feed and Desorbent Streams from Batch Experiments

Abstract

The adsorption of the main components of the Parex process, i.e., p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene, ethylbenzene, p-diethylbenzene, and toluene, was studied in a batch adsorber operating under the conditions of an industrial unit (177 degrees C, 9 bar). Prior to each experiment, the faujasitic-type adsorbent was pretreated under helium flow to control the hydration level of the adsorbent. The experimental uptake curves were used to determine adsorption equilibrium data, which were fitted with Langmuir-type isotherms. A mathematical model in which the macropore diffusion is the rate-controlling mechanism, satisfactorily describes the experimental uptake curves.