Modeling of Competitive Adsorption in Molecularly Imprinted Packed Beds

摘要: In this study, packed bed and specificaly molecularly imprinted polymer column was investigated with developing numerical model. At the beginning of the project, a comprehensive list of literatures on this subject were reviewed, and then the adsorption process, molecularly imprinted polymer technique, modeling and numerical method were discussed. Two different solution methodologies “Finite Difference” and “Finite volume” were applied to solve the governing differential equations. In addition in a sensitivity analysis the effect of various parameters on breakthrough curve was studied. Comparing the numerical models results, the finite volume method exhabited highest level of compatibility with the experimental data. Study of the breakthrough curves of both the molecularly imprinted polymer and non-imprinted polymer columns reveald that the molecularly imprinted polymer possesses the higher value of efficiency compared to non-imprinted polymer. In addition, the molecularly imprinted polymer showed the higher value of selectivity factor. Results showed that in case of competitive adsorption, molecularly imprinted polymers have higher rate of adsorption capacity in comparison to conventional adsorption. while, in case of utilizing conventional adsorption, the adsorption capacity would experience extreme decline in its value.