METU Chem. Eng. Dept.

Experiment 32
Ch.E. 410 Chem Eng. Lab II Batch Adsorption
METU Chem. Eng. Dept.
Ch.E. 410 Chem. Eng. Lab II

EXPERIMENT 32
BATCH ADSORPTION
(one-week experiment)

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE

The objective of this experiment is to investigate the decolorization properties of a sample of

activated carbon adsorbent by using methylene blue as the adsorbate. Information about the
adsorption rate and equilibrium for the system will be obtained in a batch system. In batch
experiments, methylene blue concentrations will be measured using visible absorption
spectroscopy.

APPARATUS
Volumetric flasks, pipets, laboratory shaker, spectrophotometer, stopwatch

MATERIALS
Activated carbon (in granular or powder form), methylene blue.

PRELIMINARY WORK

You will need to know basics of adsorption. Read the related material in the references given
below:
Introduction to adsorption processes, Ch.12, pp. 760-771 in Transport Processes
and Separation Process Principles, C.J.Geankoplis, 4th ed., 2003.
dsorption, Ion Exchange, Chromatography, Ch 15, pp. 778-789, 794-806, 820-
824 in Separation Process Principles, J.D. Seader, E.J. Henley, 1998.
Beers law for absorption of radiation in visible/ ultraviolet region( Skoog and
Leary,1992, p. 126-127)

Define/describe very briefly the following terms/concepts/materials in your lab note-book:

a. Define the following terms: adsorption, adsorbent, adsorbate, adsorption isotherm

b. Describe physical and chemical adsorption.
c. What are the typical characteristics of an adsorbent?
d. What is activated carbon?
e. Describe the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.
f. What are the typical industrial applications of adsorption processes?
g. What is spectrophotmetry?
h. What is Beers law?
METU Chem. Eng. Dept. Experiment 32
Ch.E. 410 Chem Eng. Lab II Batch Adsorption

PROGRAM OF THE LABORATORY SESSION

The laboratory work starts with a discussion between the laboratory supervisor and student
team on their advanced preparation.

A. Learning about the analytical technique of measuring methylene blue concentrations

Prepare a 1 L of methylene blue stock solution with a concentration of 250 mg/L. Since
methylene blue concentrations will be measured by visible absorption spectroscopy,
familarize yourself with the visible/ultraviolet spectrophotometer.

Determine the wavelength at which measurements of methylene blue concentrations should

be carried out. Prepare a calibration curve absorbance vs. concentration for different
methylene blue concentrations between 10 and 50 mg/L from stock solution by dilution.

B. Adsorption Kinetics

1. Divide the remaining solution into four flasks equally.

2. At time zero add 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg of granular activated carbon into each
flask. Then place the solutions in a shaking thermostat operating at room temperature.
3. Choose one of the flasks (say flask A) and take samples at 5 minute time intervals.
Continue sampling until the system equilibrates. If disintegration of the activated carbon
occurs, samples may require centrifugation or filtration.
4. After the system equilibrates, take samples from the other flasks and determine the
remaining methylene blue concentrations.
5. Plot the normalized solution phase concentration (C/Co) vs. time for flask A. Co is the
initial concentration and C is the concentration at time t.
6. Calculate the quantity of methylene blue that was adsorbed by the activated carbon (mg of
methylene blue adsorbed / gram of carbon) for each sample that was collected for flask A.
Plot this uptake values vs. time on the same graph developed in step 5.
7. Discuss your observations on the rate of adsorption (from the uptake curve).

C. Adsorption isotherms

Based on the methylene blue concentrations for 4 flasks at equilibrium, plan a procedure for
determining adsorption isotherms for methylene blue-activated carbon system at around room
temperature and discuss it with your supervisor.

REFERENCES

1. McCabe, W.L., Smith, J.C. and Harriott, P. Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering, 4th
ed., McGraw-Hill, New York (2003).
3. Seader, J. D., Henley, E. J., Separation Process Principles, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NeW
York(1998)
4. Skoog, D. A. and Leary;J. J., Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 4th ed., Saunders College
Publisher, New York(1992)