Dynamics of CO2 adsorption on sodium oxide promoted alumina in a packed-bed reactor

CO₂ adsorption in packed-bed reactors has potential applications in flue gas CO₂ capture and adsorption enhanced reaction processes. This work focuses on CO₂ adsorption dynamics on sodium oxide promoted alumina in a packed-bed reactor. A comprehensive model is developed to describe the coupled transport phenomena and is solved using orthogonal collocation on finite elements. The model predicted breakthrough curve matches very well with experimental data obtained from a pilot-scale packed-bed reactor. Several dimensionless parameters are also derived to explain the shape of the breakthrough curve.