The mechanism of adsorbents adsorption affinity in relation to geometric parameters

Abstract

In the process of incorporating adsorption with thermal desalination, adsorbents are important because they increase the water vapour uptake rate, and this yield more desalinated water over a short period when adsorbents chosen properly. The key parameters in the selection of adsorbents for adsorption desalination (AD) cycle are thermo-physical properties, surface characteristics and water vapour uptake capacity. Three types of adsorbents (Silica gel, zeolite and activated alumina) compared to find which adsorbent can be used as the adsorbent-refrigerant pair, by looking at their adsorption affinity in relation to geometric parameters. The silica gel found to be the suitable adsorbent as it adsorbs 12% higher than zeolite and 18.9% higher than Al2O3 at equilibrium. All adsorbents were at 90% and above in average percent desorption throughout the optimal time cycle of 1200s.