Water vapor adsorption processing

Favor adsorption for processes that require essentially complete removal of water vapor (adsorptive dehydration is capable of achieving dew point depres >45° C (80°F) molecular sieves are favored adsorbents. 

The effect of physical aging on the crystallization state and water vapor sorption behavior of amorphous non-solvated trehalose was studied [91]. It was found that annealing the amorphous substance at temperatures below the glass transition temperature caused nucleation in the sample that served to decrease the onset temperature of crystallization upon subsequent heating. Physical aging caused a decrease in the rate and extent of water vapor adsorption at low relative humidities, but water sorption could serve to remove the effects of physical aging due to a volume expansion that took place in conjunction with the adsorption process. 

VOCs can also be removed by adsorption processes (vapor recovery). In this case, ACCs are used in preference over GAC because they are more easily contained, have faster adsorption kinetics and higher adsorption capacities, and can be regenerated, in situ, by electro-thermal methods (resistive heating). ACCs have been chemically modified by treatment with ammonia (to introduce basic nitrogen complexes), chlorine (to introduce polar —Cl groups) and nitric acid (to introduce acidic oxygen complexes). In this way, the water vapor adsorption capacity can be tailored to obtain ACCs with enhanced adsorption of individual VOCs in the presence of humidity. 

Solid-Bed Dehydration. Sihca gel, bauxite, activated alurnina, or molecular sieves can be used for removing dissolved water to meet propane specifications. The soHd-bed dehydrators are used in a cycHc adsorption process. After an adsorption cycle has completed, the bed is heated with a purge gas or a vaporized Hquid-product stream for regeneration. If the latter is used, the Hquid product is condensed, separated from the free water, and returned to the process. After the beds are regenerated, they are cooled and returned to the adsorption cycle. 

If objective is to recover adsorbed components (free of water vapor), inlet gas stream should be dried before molecular sieve adsorption process occurs (water adsorption on mol sieves is particularly strong because of polarity of surface). 

Siiica S1O2 Scale in boilers and cooling water systems Insoluble turbine blade deposits due to silica vaporization Hot process removal with magnesium salts adsorption by highly basic anion exchange resins, in conjunction with demineralization distillation... 

Postcombustion processes are designed to capture NO, after it has been produced. In a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, ammonia is mixed with flue gas in the presence of a catalyst to transform the NO, into molecular nitrogen and water. In a selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR) system, a reducing agent, such as ammonia or urea, is injected into the furnace above the combustion zone where it reacts with the NO, to form nitrogen gas and water vapor. Existing postcombustion processes are costly and each has drawbacks. SCR relies on expensive catalysts and experiences problems with ammonia adsorption on the fly ash. SNCR systems have not been proven for boilers larger than 300 MW. 

Adsorption of water on salt crystals plays a key role in many atmospheric and environmental processes. Alkah halides in particular play an important role in the first stages of drop growth in clouds. To understand the atomistic details of the wetting and dissolution processes that take place in these crystals, we apphed SPFM to the smdy of the adsorption of water vapor on single crystal surfaces and the role of surface defects, such as steps. 

Figure 227. Adsorption process of water vapor on solids Solid Adsorbent Liquid Absorbent...

Physical, thermal, and chemical stability in order to reduce operating costs, solid sorbents must demonstrate stability under flue gas conditions, adsorption operation conditions, and during the multi-cycle adsorption-regeneration process. In particular, stability in the presence of water vapor is essential for the sustainable performance of the solid sorbent. In addition to thermal properties of the solid sorbent, heat capacity and thermal conductivity are also important in heat transfer operations. 

Five common desiccant materials are used to adsorb water vapor montmorillonite clay ([(Na,Cao.5)o.33(Al,Mg)2Si40io(OH)2 H20], silica gel, molecular sieves (synthetic zeolite), calcium sulfate (CaS04), and calcium oxide (CaO). These desiccants remove water by a variety of physical and chemical methods adsorption, a process whereby a layer or layers of water molecules adhere to the surface of the desiccant capillary condensation, a procedure whereby the small pores of the desiccant become filled with water and chemical action, a procedure whereby the desiccant undergoes a chemical reaction with water. 

Modern SMR plants (Figure 2.5b) incorporate a PSA unit for purifying hydrogen from C02, CO, and CH4 impurities (moisture is preliminarily removed from the process gas). The PSA unit consists of multiple (parallel) adsorption beds, most commonly filled with molecular sieves of suitable pore size it operates at the pressure of about 20 atm. The PSA off-gas is composed of (mol%) C02—55, H2—27, CH4—14, CO—3, N2—0.4, and some water vapor [11] and is burned as a fuel in the primary reformer furnace. Generally, SMR plants with PSA need only a HT-WGS stage, which may somewhat simplify the process. 

An important step in the freeze drying process with vials is the stoppering or closing of the vials either at the end pressure of SD, or at a chosen partial pressure of a specific gas. This avoids handling of open vials, which can lead to contamination and adsorption of water vapor from the atmosphere. 

Adsorption of water is thought to occur mainly at steps and defects and is very common on polycrystalline surfaces, and hence the metal oxides are frequently covered with hydroxyl groups. On prolonged exposure, hydroxide formation may proceed into the bulk of the solid in certain cases as with very basic oxides such as BaO. The adsorption of water may either be a dissociative or nondissociative process and has been investigated on surfaces such as MgO, CaO, TiOz, and SrTi03.16 These studies illustrate the fact that water molecules react dissociatively with defect sites at very low water-vapor pressures (< 10 9 torr) and then with terrace sites at water-vapor pressures that exceed a threshold pressure. Hydroxyl groups will be further discussed in the context of Bronsted acids and Lewis bases. 

The adsorption-desorption process is of interest in many systems (such as with cement). The water vapor may condense in the pores after adsorption under certain conditions. This may be studied by analyzing the adsorption-desorption data... 

Adsorbent beds used in the PADRE process have been recycled on a test stand more than 2000 times with no measurable loss of adsorption capacity. Also, the PADRE resin has a relatively high tolerance for water vapor, allowing efficient treatment of airstreams with a relative humidity of greater than 90%. These two advantages make the PADRE process a cost-effective on-site treatment technology when compared to traditional activated carbon systems. 

An atom or molecule that approaches the surface of a solid always experiences a net attractive potential ). As a result there is a finite probability that it is trapped on the surface and the phenomenon that we call adsorption occurs. Under the usual environmental conditions (about one atmosphere and 300 K and in the presence of oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor and assorted hydrocarbons) all solid surfaces are covered with a monolayer of adsorbate and the build-up of multiple adsorbate layers is often detectable. The constant presence of the adsorbate layer influences all the chemical, mechanical and electronic surface properties. Adhesion, lubrication, the onset of chemical corrosion or photoconductivity are just a few of the many macroscopic surface processes that are controlled by the various properties of a monolayer of adsorbates. 

Special applications The environmental control and life support system on a spacecraft maintains a safe and comfortable environment, in which the crew can live and work, by supplying oxygen and water and by removing carbon dioxide, water vapor, and trace contaminants from cabin air. It is apparent that the processes aimed at the recycling of air and water are vital for supporting life in the cabin. These recycling processes include separation and reduction of carbon dioxide, removal of trace gas-phase contaminants, recovery and purification of humidity condensate, purification and polishing of wastewater streams, and are performed totally or in part by adsorption equipment (Dabrowski, 2001). ... 

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