ABSTRACT
R. Aris and co-workers studied the steady-state behavior of countercurrent chromatographic reactors with nonlinear adsorption equilibrium. Nonlinear adsorption equilibrium coupled with a finite reaction rate was studied independently by A. L. Bunge and C. J. Radke when dealing with the alkaline flooding of oil reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery and by J. M. Loureiro et al. when looking at adsorptive reactors. The chapter presents the methodology for solving adsorption/reaction problems using the method of characteristics following the treatment of Loureiro et al. The pulse front propagates as in the case of the step impulse; however, the rear part of the pulse is spread progressively by adsorption, the spreading eventually catching the pulse front. The solute reactant or reactant mixture is injected into chromatographic reactor as a pulse. Both conversion to product and separation take place in the course of passage through the column; the device is truly both reactor and chromatograph.”
