Frequency Response Method for Diffusivity Characterization of Propane in HZSM-5

Abstract

Transient uptake curves for propane gas in a bed of HZSM-5 using a volumetric frequency response setup (batch system) were obtained. Thereby, a perturbation, such as a change in volume, was applied to the solid/gas system, and the resulting change in pressure was detected. Two cases of mass transfer limitations (bed diffusion control and micropore diffusion control) were compared, and it was concluded that, in the presented case, micropore diffusion is the rate-determining process. The obtained micropore diffusion coefficient for propane in HZSM-5 was, on average, about 1.2 × 10−10 m2 g−1, which is in good agreement with other frequency response studies shown by literature data. The homemade setup and the modeling presented in this work serve as the basis for ongoing numerical simulations.