(434c) A Novel Technique for Determining Adsorption Breakthrough Time and Capacity Using a Non-Contact High Resolution Microwave Sensor

In this study, a newly developed non-contact high resolution microwave sensor was used to determine breakthrough time and adsorption capacity for different adsorbents/adsorbates with different dielectric properties. Beaded activated carbon (BAC, microwave absorbing) and a DOWEX Optipore polymeric adsorbent (V503, microwave transparent) were completely loaded with 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene (non-polar) or 2-butoxyethanol (polar). During adsorption, the changes in dielectric properties of the adsorbent were monitored in terms of two microwave parameters, quality factor and resonance frequency. Adsorption tests were completed at select relative pressures of adsorbates in the influent stream (0.03, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6). For all tests, the difference between the 5% breakthrough time and the time that the quality factor was 0.95 of its final value, was less than 5%. Also, for all tests, a proportional relationship between adsorption capacity and the final value of the resonance frequency shift was found. The results from this study demonstrate the potential of non-contact high resolution microwave sensors for fast and accurate measurement of the adsorption breakthrough time and adsorption capacity.