Gas-Adsorption Processes - An Update

Abstract

Gas-adsorption processes are commonly used in the petroleum, natural-gas, petrochemical and other industries. It is important to be aware of those process situations which favor the use of adsorption, and although no hard and fast rules can be given. some generalizations can be, and the first part of the paper is devoted to a discussion of these generalizations. Adsorption processes come in a wide range of physical embodiments. These embodiments are first discussed as idealizations, and their strong points and weak points are delineated. Next, several specific process flow sheets which have been commercialized rather recently and which may be extrapolable to other separations are discussed. Finally, the issue of where gas-adsorption technology is headed is confronted. Suggestions are made as to possible new and expanded applications.