Simultaneous axial dispersion and adsorption in a packed bed

A study has been made of simultaneous axial dispersion and solid‐fluid mass exchange in a packed‐bed adsorber. Four different and mutually exclusive controlling mechanisms for the solid‐fluid mass exchange rate are considered. A dimensionless parameter K characterizes this interphase mass transfer. The Peclet number characterizes axial dispersion. An impulse‐response technique was used to obtain simultaneously values of the axial Peclet number and the rate parameter K in the adsorption column. Values of the Peclet number obtained under conditions of interphase mass transfer were found to be significantly smaller than the values measured under pure mixing (no surface activity) conditions. The mathematical model used to analyze the results includes the particular case of no surface activity with results previously found from the dispersion model. One result not previously derived from the dispersion model was found and tested experimentally.