Adsorption Fundamentals
- Introduction to Adsorption
- Properties of Commerical Porous Adsorbents
- Types of Adsorption
- Kinetic & Transport Consideration
Core chemical engineering · Years 3–4
Separation Processes for chemical engineers
A comprehensive study of separation processes covering adsorption and absorption, physical and chemisorption mechanisms, isotherm models, BET surface analysis and distillation.
- 21
- 28
- 14
- 6
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No card needed. Every lesson is open on every plan.
The subject
What Separation Processes covers
This course provides a profound understanding of the mechanisms, principles and applications of separation process systems, with detailed analysis and solving of complex systems involving surface theory, physical and chemisorption mechanisms, isotherm models and distillation. It establishes the working principles of separation from the perspective of adsorption and absorption, with an in-depth treatment of the BET equations to highlight the diffusivity effects associated with these mechanisms. Learners become equipped to understand, troubleshoot and optimise processes separating a wide range of materials and configurations. They come away able to understand adsorption and absorption theoretically; model physical and chemisorption processes; explore and linearise the various isotherm models; solve complex multi-component systems with a focus on scale-up for industry; develop a deep knowledge of surface area and BET systems and boundary layer mechanisms; and understand distillation as a case study in the design and optimisation of column configurations.
What you’ll be able to do
- Define adsorption as adherence of species to a surface
- Recognise linear isotherm behaviour at low adsorbed amounts
- Apply the Wakao and Funazkri correlation for boundary-layer mass transport
- State the assumptions of ideal fixed bed adsorption
- Identify adsorption equilibrium and kinetics as the controls on PSA and VSA separations
- Define adsorbents by their internal surface area per unit mass or volume
The lessons
Every lesson, theme by theme
21 lessons in 6 themes, pitched at Years 3–4. Your year decides what comes first, never what you can open.
Isotherms
- Types of Isotherms
- Extended Isothermals
- Liquid Adsorption Isotherms
Transport & Diffusion
- Boundary-Layer Transport
- Effective Pore Diffusivity
Fixed Bed & Processes
- Fixed Bed Adsorption
- Temperature Swing Adsorption Process
- Liquid Adsorption Process
- Slurry Adsorption Process
- Frontal Loading Analytical Solution
- Scale-up using Constant Pattern Front
Adsorption Control
- Adsorption Control
More in Separation Processes
- What are Adsorbents
- Pure-Gas Adsorption
- Pressure Swing Adsorption Process
- Equipment for Adsorption
- Surface Area & BET Equation
Before you start
What it builds on
How you’ll learn it
Separation Processes, at your pace
Video lessons
21 lessons and 28 videos, each with what you’ll be able to do by the end.
Practice, marked as you go
14 practice questions, marked the moment you answer, with hints when you’re stuck. Step-by-step worked solutions come with Core.
CERA, when it doesn’t click
Ask CERA to explain any idea in Separation Processes another way, or to test you on it. Every day, on every plan.
Keep exploring
See every subjectReactor Design
A course on reactor design, covering rate of reaction, ideal reactor modelling, non-isothermal systems, fixed bed reactors and non-ideal flow.
Distillation
A course on the design, troubleshooting and optimisation of distillation columns, covering ideal and non-ideal VLE and the McCabe-Thiele, Modi & Westerberg and Ponchon-Savarit methods.
Unit Operations
A comprehensive unit operations course spanning mass transfer fundamentals, drying and crystallisation, packed tower and distillation design, extraction and particle size analysis.
Heat Transfer
A comprehensive heat transfer course spanning conduction, convection and radiation, Nusselt analysis, pinch technology heat integration, nodal networks and thermal food systems.
Ready when you are
Build a plan around exactly where you’re stuck
Tell us where you are and get a pathway with your first lesson, your first practice set and a weekly study target. You won’t need an account until you want to keep it.