(402b) A Simple Graphical Check of Consistency for Zero Length Column Desorption Curves

The mass balance for a zero length column (ZLC) system leads to a very simple check which can be used to ensure internal consistency of the experimental curves. This is based on reporting experiments run at different flowrates on a c/c₀ vs Ft plot, where F is the volumetric flowrate. The general theory of the ZLC will be used to identify what characteristics should be shown by a valid set of experimental runs at different flowrates. The proposed method is applied to two different sets of results for carbon dioxide on 13X zeolite reported in both the c/c₀ vs t and the c/c₀ vs Ft plots. The consistency check is used to identify by simple inspection of the experimental curves if the data are reliable. The results lead to an important recommendation: any future contribution reporting ZLC curves should include the c/c₀ vs Ft plot which can confirm the internal consistency of the results and indicate if the experiments are carried out under kinetic control and hence a mass transfer coefficient can be measured reliably.