Adsorption equilibrium and column dynamics of VOCs on MCM-48 depending on pelletizing pressure

Structural characteristics of pelletized MCM-48 were investigated using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption and desorption. The adsorption equilibrium data were also obtained for seven pure vapors (acetone, benzene, cyclohexane, hexane, methanol, MEK and toluene) at 300.15 K for different pelletized MCM-48 using a gravimetric method. Adsorption equilibria of various VOCs on pelletized MCM-48 were classified as type IV in accord with IUPAC recommendations. To correlate the collected experimental data, the hybrid isotherm equations such as Langmuir–Sips and inhomogeneous DA were used. It was found that the adsorbed amount of nitrogen and VOCs is greatly affected by pelletizing pressure. A mathematical model of a fixed bed pelletized MCM-48 system was successfully employed to describe the adsorption breakthrough curves of VOCs.