Modelling of microporous diffusion of n-paraffins in zeolite 5A

Sorptive liquid-phase diffusion of two n-paraffins, C₁₀H₂₂ and C₁₁H₂₄, dissolved in isooctane, onto micropore of 5A zeolite was studied to assess multicomponent diffusion and competitive effects. Diffusion coefficients for adsorbing components are determined from experimental batch reactor data. The experimental data indicate that diffusion through the microporous zeolite crystals is the primary diffusional resistance. A mathematical model of the rate of adsorption of a solute from a liquid by micropore adsorbent in a batch system was developed. The equation describing the mass transport by diffusion in a micropore adsorbent has been solved in order to obtain theoretical uptake curves for systems when the adsorption equilibrium isotherm is the favourable and nonlinear one. A computer simulation of the microporous diffusion is performed by use of the ISIM-Interactive Simulation Language. The effect of main term and cross-term coefficients of micropore diffusion for the system considered is investigated.