Opening the Toolbox: 18 Experimental Techniques for Measurement of Mixed Gas Adsorption

Abstract

Adsorption separation systems offer the possibility to replace or augment legacy separation systems with more efficient processes, resulting in enormous savings in energy. However, adsorption systems are not as easily evaluated as possible unit operations in process simulation software compared to distillation or absorption columns. The lack of ability to predict adsorption of gas mixtures represents a persistent barrier holding back implementation of adsorption separations. This shortcoming is the result of an equally persistent deficiency in the ability to measure adsorption of gas mixtures, despite the huge variety of existing methods to measure mixture adsorption. This work presents a comprehensive overview of 18 techniques used to measure mixture adsorption, including the equipment and principles used in each method as well as the strengths and shortcomings of each technique. This work also provides recommendations for which methods may best suit the individual needs of experimentalists interested in measuring mixture adsorption and includes an outlook on the future of mixture adsorption measurement.