Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.54, No.15-16, 3495-3502, 1999
Gravimetric transient response study of adsorption and reaction of propylamines on alumina
The rate and equilibrium of adsorption of n-propyl- and of di-n-propylamine on gamma-alumina were studied using recording microbalances Cahn D-200. Measurements were performed both at lower temperatures where only adsorption occurs and higher temperatures where adsorption is accompanied by the elimination reaction. The shape of adsorption isotherms indicated a presence of two types of adsorption centers at lower temperatures of measurements. By a comparison of values of adsorption constants derived from equilibrium adsorption data with those calculated from kinetic results it was found that the equilibrium adsorption constants may be obtained from kinetic data in the case of slow adsorption as that of n-propylamine. This approach was used for calculation of equilibrium adsorption constants for di-n-propylamine, where the attainment of true equilibrium in adsorption experiments was impossible due to excessive time required. By modelling of di-n-propylamine adsorption-desorption experiments, it was shown that the slow increase of adsorption observed after the initial quick rise of the adsorbed amount might be explained by a rearrangement of species adsorbed. The amine molecule bound initially to individual center rearranges gradually to configuration where amine molecule is bound to two different types of sites. The models and approaches were extended to the temperature range where the deamination reaction occurs. Simultaneous recording of weight of the alumina sample and the propylene production rate indicated that for agreement of calculated and observed system behavior, the poisoning effect of ammonia and propylene has to be included into the model of the adsorption-reaction process.
Keywords:CATALYTIC REACTIONS