Use of Higher-Order Frequency Response Functions for Identification of Nonlinear Adsorption Kinetics: Single Mechanisms under Isothermal Conditions

The concept of higher-order frequency response functions(FRFs), which is based on Volterra series expansion of nonlinearfunctions, is used for analysis of kinetics of nonlinear adsorptionsystems. Four different kinetic mechanisms: Langmuir kinetics, filmresistance control, micropore diffusion control and pore-surfacediffusion control were analyzed and the results were compared. It wasshown that, contrary to the linear frequency response characteristicfunctions, the higher-order FRFs corresponding to different mechanismsdiffer in shape. This result offers great potential for theidentification of the adsorption-diffusion mechanism governing theprocess. It is shown that the second order FRFs give sufficientinformation for distinguishing different mechanisms.