Breakthrough Curve Modeling for Adsorption of Sulfur Compounds from Propane and Butane Streams Using Nano Zeolite

In this research, the adsorption of sulfur compounds from propane and butane streams (real gas from Assaluyeh) using faujasite-type zeolite in constant pressure and temperature was studied. Zeolite NaY was synthesized in order to specify the effect of NaY size on adsorption of sulfur compounds. The synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM and BET analyses then three different sizes of NaY zeolite (60nm, 800nm, 2400nm) were selected to specify the effect of the particle size on the sulfur compound’s removal performance. The outlet gas streams were characterized using a potentiometric method (UOP212). Breakthrough curves were plotted for each stream; moreover, the breakthrough curves were modeled using BDST (bed depth service time) model and Yoon-Nelson model in order to determine the effect of adsorbent’s size, type of inlet gas and the amount of sulfur compounds on the parameters of Yoon-Nelson and BDST models. After making a comparison between the results from breakthrough modeling, it was concluded that for BDST model, decreasing the size of NaY zeolite increased the adsorption capacity index while the proportionally constant model was being decreased; however, in Yoon-Nelson model, decreasing the size of NaY zeolite increased time to %50 of breakthrough curve and decreased the proportionally constant model.