This Back to Basics article on adsorption may explain how to:
• Identify strategies for selecting the best adsorbent, including various types of activated carbon, polymeric adsorbents, and zeolite molecular sieves, for a given adsorption challenge.
• Identify equipment used in industrial processes for activated carbon adsorption, including not only the adsorber itself but also regeneration equipment.
• Explain how to optimize process conditions for maximum performance of activated carbon and polymeric adsorbents.
• Discuss concepts relevant to ion exchange including: the various types of ion exchange resins, how to predict ion exchange resin performance using equilibrium calculations, and ion exchange process flow diagrams.
• Describe the use of zeolite molecular sieves for separation of molecules that are only slightly different in size or polarity.