Modelling, simulation, and experimental validation for toluene removal from gas phase in a fixed bed adsorption column

In this study, an adsorption technique was explored for the removal of toluene present in the gas phase by taking granular activated carbon as an adsorbent in a fixed bed adsorption column. Breakthrough curves were experimentally found out at varying bed height (0.015–0.025 m) and inlet concentration (7000–11500 ppm). Modelling and simulation studies were subsequently carried out to enable the comparison between predicted and experimental breakthrough curves. Here orthogonal collocation technique was employed to solve the model equations by discretising non-linear coupled partial differential equations into set of ordinary differential equations which were solved by using ODE15s solver of Matlab. The discretisation procedure has been described in detail. Finally, the flow rate was found out to be the most sensitive parameter after carrying out sensitivity analysis. © 2019, © 2019 Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers.