A Project Based Learning

Report On
“Model of Adsorption Column”
Submitted Towards The
Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements of
B. Tech Chemical Engineering Sem VI
For the Subject
Process Development And Engineering
Academic Year: 2023-24

Bharati Vidyapeeth’s
(Deemed to be University)
College of Engineering, Pune 411043
Ranked 96th by NIRF
Accredited with “A” grade by NAAC”

Submitted by -

Shwetika Deshmukh 03
Sai Sheth 09
Amit Tiwari 12
Sapna Rao 14

Faculty Supervisor
Dr. S.M.Jadhav
 Bharati Vidyapeeth’s
(Deemed to be University)
College of Engineering, Pune 411043
Ranked 96th by NIRF
Accredited with “A” grade by NAAC”

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project entitled “Model of Adsorption Column” is a bonafide work
carried out by the following students and it is submitted to the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be
University College of Engineering, Pune for the partial fulfillment of the requirement for the of Semester
VI Chemical Engineering Bachelors of Technology Degree for the subject Project Based Learning (PBL)
in the of Semester VI Chemical Engineering.

Shwetika Deshmukh 03
Sai Sheth 09
Amit Tiwari 12
Sapna Rao 14

Dr. S.M.Jadhav Dr. Prakash Chavan

Name of Faculty Supervisor (Head of Department)
 Introduction:

An adsorption column is a specialized apparatus used in chemical engineering and various industrial
processes to separate components from a fluid mixture through the process of adsorption. Adsorption
is the adhesion of atoms, ions, or molecules from a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid to a surface, often
creating a thin film. The adsorbent material in the column, typically a solid, porous substance such as
activated carbon, silica gel, or zeolites, selectively captures certain components from the fluid stream
while allowing others to pass through.

The column is designed to optimize the contact between the fluid mixture and the adsorbent material,
typically by packing the adsorbent into a cylindrical vessel and passing the fluid through it either in a
downward or upward direction. The choice of adsorbent material and operating conditions such as
temperature, pressure, and flow rate depend on the specific application and the properties of the
components being separated.Adsorption columns find widespread use in various industries including
chemical processing, petroleum refining, environmental remediation, and air purification. They are
employed for tasks such as removing impurities from gases and liquids, purifying solvents, separating
components of a mixture, and recovering valuable compounds from waste streams.

Overall, adsorption columns play a crucial role in numerous industrial processes where precise
separation and purification of components are required, offering an efficient and cost-effective solution
for a wide range of applications.
 Procedure:

Requirement: Plastic bottles, pebbles, activated charcoal, small granules, sand particles, cotton,
colourized water, stand

Adsorption is the adhering of substances from gases or liquids onto the interface of two
phases, mainly onto solids. In water and used water purification, adsorption is applied for the removal
of dissolved impurities. The most common process is application of activated carbon for removal of
organic substances.

Selection of adsorbent and adsorbate:

• Adsorbent used: activated charcoal , pebbles, small granules, sand particles and cotton
• Adsorbat used : colourized water

➢ Cut the bottles into two halves.

➢ Make hole such that it will allow only adsorbate passing through it and not absorbent and make
column.
➢ which consist of 5 layers
➢ At top most layer or at 1st stage put pebbles
➢ In stage 2 put small granules
➢ In stage 3 put sand particles
➢ In stage 4 put activated charcoal
➢ In stage 5 place or the bottom most layer put cotton.
➢ Place the collector below the column to collect decolorized water.
➢ Once done with setting up adsorption column pour the colourized water into water, adsorbent
adsorbs impurities and finally we get decolorized water In the collector.
 Fig.1- Adsorption Column

Fig.2-Coloured Solution
 Applications:

Adsorption columns find diverse applications across various industries due to their ability to selectively
capture and separate components from fluid streams. Some common applications include:

1. Gas Purification: Adsorption columns are widely used to remove impurities, such as moisture, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), from gases. They are employed in
industries like natural gas processing, petrochemicals, and semiconductor manufacturing to purify feed
gases for downstream processes and to meet stringent quality requirements.

2. Water Treatment: Adsorption columns are used in water treatment processes to remove contaminants
such as heavy metals, organic pollutants, and dyes from aqueous solutions. Activated carbon adsorption
columns are particularly effective in removing organic compounds and improving water quality for
drinking, industrial processes, and wastewater treatment.

3. Air Pollution Control: Adsorption columns are employed in air pollution control systems to capture
harmful pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides
(NOx), and particulate matter, from industrial emissions and exhaust gases. They play a crucial role in
mitigating air pollution and meeting regulatory emission standards.

4. Chromatography: Adsorption columns are used in chromatographic separation techniques, such as

gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and ion chromatography (IC), for analyzing
and separating components of complex mixtures. They enable the selective retention and separation of
analytes based on their interactions with the stationary phase inside the column.

5. Desalination: Adsorption columns are employed in desalination processes, such as ion exchange and
adsorption-desorption cycles, to remove dissolved ions and impurities from saline water sources. They
contribute to the production of fresh water from seawater or brackish water for drinking, agriculture, and
industrial purposes.

6. Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Recovery: Adsorption columns are used to recover valuable
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial waste streams, solvent vapors, and exhaust gases.
They enable the capture and concentration of VOCs for reuse or safe disposal, reducing emissions and
minimizing environmental impact.
 Conclusion:

In conclusion, adsorption columns play a vital role in various industrial processes and environmental
applications by selectively capturing, separating, and purifying components from fluid streams. Through
the process of adsorption, these columns effectively remove impurities, pollutants, and contaminants
from gases and liquids, contributing to improved product quality, environmental protection, and
regulatory compliance.The versatility of adsorption columns is demonstrated by their wide range of
applications, including gas purification, water treatment, air pollution control, chromatography,
desalination, VOC recovery, chemical separation, and heat and energy storage. Their ability to
selectively adsorb specific components from complex mixtures makes them indispensable in industries
such as petrochemicals, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, and environmental remediation.
Effective design, operation, and optimization of adsorption columns require a thorough understanding
of adsorption principles, experimental data analysis, and modeling techniques. Safety measures are
paramount when conducting practical experiments involving adsorption columns to mitigate risks
associated with handling hazardous materials and operating equipment under specific conditions.
Overall, adsorption columns continue to be indispensable tools in addressing various industrial
challenges, ensuring product quality, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable practices.
As technology advances and our understanding of adsorption processes improves, the applications and
capabilities of adsorption columns are expected to further expand, contributing to advancements in
diverse fields and addressing emerging environmental and societal needs.
 References:

1. Adsorption Technology & Design by D. Q. Kerns and R. M. Rosenberg - This book offers a
comprehensive overview of adsorption principles, design considerations, and practical applications,
including experimental techniques and case studies involving adsorption columns.

2. Principles of Adsorption and Adsorption Processes by H. M. F. Freundlich - This classic text covers
fundamental principles of adsorption and provides insights into experimental methods and techniques
used in studying adsorption phenomena, including experiments with adsorption columns.

3. Handbook of Adsorption Technology edited by K. S. Birdi - This handbook provides a comprehensive

reference on adsorption technology, including experimental techniques and methodologies for studying
adsorption processes in columns and other configurations.

4. Experimental Methods in Adsorption by R. D. Chiriac - This book focuses on experimental methods

and techniques used in adsorption research, including detailed descriptions of experiments involving
adsorption columns and insights into data analysis and interpretation.

5. Adsorption Engineering by J. M. Smith and R. W. Missen - This textbook covers principles of

adsorption engineering, including experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation in the context
of adsorption column experiments and process development.

6. Adsorption: Science and Technology by A. Dabrowski - This comprehensive text provides a detailed
overview of adsorption science and technology, including experimental techniques, instrumentation, and
applications in adsorption column experiments and industrial processes.

7. "Chemical Engineering Laboratory Manual: Adsorption" by S. R. Morrison - This laboratory manual

offers practical guidance and experimental procedures for conducting adsorption experiments, including
experiments with adsorption columns, in a chemical engineering laboratory setting.