PREDICTION OF MULTICOMPONENT LIQUID ADSORPTION EQUILIBRIA

A new method of predicting adsorption equilibria for multicomponent liquid solutions on solids has been developed which combines the thermodynamic and kinetic treatments of liquid adsorption. Multicomponent equilibria can be predicted using parameters obtained from binary adsorption data. The method requires the adsorbent capacities, the bulk and surface phase activity coefficients, and the binary adsorption equilibrium constants. The calculation procedure is simpler than other available methods. Predictions are made for the mixture of benzene, ethyl acetate, and cyclohexane on activated carbon at 303 K. The predictions are in quantitative agreement with published experimental data for this system.