Adsorption equilibria and rate parameters for nitrogen and methane on Maxsorb activated carbon

Equilibrium and kinetic parameters for methane and nitrogen on a new, high specific area active carbon Maxsorb are reported. Volumetric and chromatographic methods are used to measure the pure component adsorption isotherm and the effective mass transfer coefficient for each gas. The adsorption isotherms at 300 K, measured up to a pressure of 550 kPa, are approximately linear for both methane and nitrogen on Maxsorb. The equilibrium separation factor is 3.0 in favor of methane. The mass transfer resistance is observed to be very low for each sorbate. The equilibrium and kinetic parameters are input in the mathematical model of binary breakthrough experiments using an axial dispersion model. The theoretical and experimental breakthrough curves are observed to be in excellent agreement.