An Experimentally Verified Physical Properties Database for Sorbent Selection and Simulation

Executive Summary

This project works to close the gap seen in the intensified process fundamentals area around how to enable modeling tools through the presentation of useful data for phenomena such as adsorption in complex systems. It looks to use meta-analysis of available databases to determine what data can currently be used with statistical confidence in its accuracy. Additionally, the project will also look to perform selected experiments to enhance this data set, and it will carry out simulations (validated by the data set that has been established) to further enhance the availability of a broad class of input data for process models.

Technical Challenge

  • Limited data availability (temperature and pressure or concentration) for a separation process based on a particular sorbent material
  • Quality of existing data can vary widely by source

Potential Impact

When successful, the project will provide publically available data that will strongly incentivize software providers to include widely accessible process design modules for adsorptive separations in their products. Basing these modules on real materials will greatly increase the motivation of users across the chemical industry to consider adsorptive separations in the early stages of process design as an alternative to distillation. Individual software providers will be able to create distinctive value for their products by the functionality and ease-of-use of their design tools for adsorptive processes, which require cyclic processes and typically offer many design alternatives.

Resources

The Georgia Tech team has extensive experience in materials synthesis and, critically, experience and equipment suitable for direct measurement of multicomponent adsorption equilibrium. The team has access to two separate pieces of equipment developed specifically to measure binary adsorption, and multiple pieces of equipment to measure single-component adsorption of gases and vapors. The Dow Chemical will contribute to project evaluation to ensure its relevance to the chemical process industry.