Problem
A local industry produces a process air stream that contains vinyl chloride (molecular weight 62.5) at a concentration of 1000 ppmv. The mass flow rate of air is 1.9 kg/s at a temperature of 25?C and a total pressure of 1 atm. The environmental group has proposed using an activated carbon bed to remove vinyl chloride. Density of air is 1.2 kg/m3. Given that the adsorption bed is 5 m2 in area and 0.35 m in thickness, determine the following:
(a) The lifetime of the bed before regeneration. Answer in hours. The carbon used is Ambersorb XE-347 for which the Freundlich isotherm parameters for vinyl chloride are KFreun = 4.16 and n = 2.95, that is, Ce = KFreunWn sat, where Wsat is the saturation adsorbed concentration (g/g). The adsorption bed density is 700 kg/m3. The overall mass transfer coefficient is 30 s-1.
(b) What is the overall flux of vinyl chloride through the bed? Answer in kg/m2 s. What is the mass rate through the bed in kg/h?
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.