Sample Problem

#3:
An aqueous solution containing a valuable solute is
colored by small amounts of an impurity. Before
crystallization, the impurity is to be removed by adsorption
on a decolorizing carbon, which adsorbs only insignificant
amounts of the principal solute. A series of laboratory tests
was made by stirring various amounts of the adsorbent into
batches of the original solution until equilibrium was
established, yielding the following data at constant
temperature:
kg carbon/kg 0 0.001 0.004 0.008 0.02 0.04
solution
Equilibrium color 9.6 8.6 6.3 4.3 1.7 0.7
The color intensity was measured on an arbitrary scale,
proportional to the concentration of the colored
substance. It is desired to reduce the color to 10% of its
original value, 9.6. Determine the quantity of fresh carbon
required per 1000 kg of solution for a single-stage
operation, for a two-stage crosscurrent process using the
minimum total amount of carbon, and for a two-stage
countercurrent operation.
A. SINGLE STAGE ADSORPTION

M= ?
qo = 0

Solution with impurity Lean solution

Adsorber
Co = 9.6 C = 0.1(9.6) = 0.96
S = 1000 kg

Spent Carbon

q (per 1000 kg of solution) = ?

SOLUTION

kg carbon/ C* = equilibrium Q = adsorbate

kg sol’n color, concentration, units/kg
Units/kg sol’n carbon

0 9.6
0.001 8.6 (9.6-8.6)/0.001 = 1000
0.004 6.3 (8.6-6.3)/0.001 = 825
0.008 4.3 (6.3-4.3)/0.001 = 663
0.02 1.7 (4.3-1.7)/0.001 = 395
0.04 0.7 (1.7- 0.7)/0.001 = 223
• Using Material Balance
S(Co - C) = M(q - qo)
1000(9.6 – 0.96) = M(q – 0)
8640 = Mq -------------- eqn 1
• Using the equilibrium data given, the Freundlich
equation applies for the system
c q log c log q
9.6 0

8.6 1000 0.934498 3

6.3 825 0.799341 2.916454
4.3 663 0.633468 2.821514
1.7 395 0.230449 2.596597
0.7 223 -0.1549 2.348305
• Graphical Representation

3.05

2.95

2.85
log q

2.75
y = 0.60x + 2.4634
2
2.65 R = 0.9996

2.55
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
log c
From the equation of the line of the equilibrium data
Slope is 0.60 at empirical constant (n)
• Using Freundlich Equation:
q = Kc n

in order to find K, we use the equation;

q 663 = 276.3
K = n thus; K =
c 4.3 (0.60)
Therefore , the resulting Freundlich isotherm is:
q = 276.3c (0.60)

to find q at the spent adsorbent stream, use co equal

to 0.96
q = 276.3(0.96 ) (0.60) = 269.61
To solve for M, use equation 1 from the material balance
8640 = Mq
where q from the solved data is 269.61
8640 = M (269.61)

Therefore
M = 32.04 kg Carbon
B. Two-stage crosscurrent process using the minimum total
amount of carbon
M1 = ? M2 = ?
qo = 0 qo = 0

Co = 9.6
S = 1000 Lean solution
Adsorber Adsorber
kg C=0.1(9.6) = 0.96

q1 = ? q2 = ?
Since the Freundlich equation applies, use Fig.11.19
Y2 0.96
= = 0.1
Y0 9.6
Y2
From Fig. 11.19 w/ n=0.6 and = 0.1
Y0
C1
= 0.275
C0 therefore C1 = 2.64
• Using Freundlich equation: q = Kc n
q = (277.06) * (2.64)0.6 = 496.06
q = (277.06) * (0.96) 0.6 = 270.38
From the Material Balance: S(Co - C) = M(q - qo)
MT = M1 + M2
M1 = 14.03kg
Solving for M2
[ ( 2.64) − ( 0.96) ]1000 = M2 (270.38)
M2 = 6.21kg

Solving for the Total Mass:

MT = M1 + M2
MT = 14.03 kg + 6.21 kg

kg carbon
MT = 20.24
1000 kg solution
 C. Two-stage countercurrent operation

M1 = ? M2 = ?
qo = 0 qo = 0

1 2

Co = 9.6 C = 0.1(9.6)
S = 1000 kg q1 = ? q2 = ? = 0.96
• Using the Mc Cabe Thiele Method, locate the operating line
and draw the equilibrium curve given the following data:

C0 = 9.6
C = 0.96
QN+1 = 0

Note: The operating line is located by Trial

and error until two stages can be drawn
between operating line and equilibrium
curve:
Graphical representation

10
Initial
color, 9
0.96
8
Operatin
g line Equilibrium
7
Curve

6 1
5
c

3
Final 2
color, 2
0.96
1

0 200 400 600 800 1000

q
From the Material Balance:
S(Co - C) = M(q - qo)

We could solve for the Mass of Carbon present

1000[ ( 9.6 ) − ( 0.96 ) ] = M [ ( 675 ) − ( 0 ) ]

kg carbon
M = 12.80
1000kgsolu tion