Sorbex zone parameters

Common to aU Molex processes are the following six Sorbex zone parameters A, F , A/F , D , D /A and cycle time. 

The second of the six Sorbex zone parameters is F , which represents the volumetric rate of feed normals introduced to the Molex process. 

The third of the six Sorbex zone parameters is the ratio of A/F , which is a unit-less value and represents the ratio of the selective pore rate (A) to the volumetric feed rate of n-paraffins (F ). This means that the ratio A/F sets the amount of selective pores that circulate countercurrent to the rate of feed normals introduced... 

Since the Sorbex process is a liquid-phase fixed-bed process, the selection of particle size is an important consideration for pressure drop and process hydraulics. The exact particle size is optimized for each particular Molex process to balance the liquid phase diffusion rates and adsorbent bed frictional pressure drop. The Sorbex process consists of a finite number of interconnected adsorbent beds. These beds are allocated between the following four Sorbex zones zone 1 is identified as the adsorption zone, zone 2 is identified as the purification zone, zone 3 is identified as the desorption and zone 4 is identified as the buffer zone. The total number of beds and their allocation between the different Sorbex zones is dependent on the desired performance of the particular Molex process. Molex process performance is defined by two parameters extract normal paraffin purity and degree of normal paraffin recovery from the corresponding feedstock. Details about the zone and the bed allocations for each Molex process are covered in subsequent discussions about each process. 

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