Mathematical modelling of flow and adsorption in a gas chromatograph

Abstract

In this paper, a mathematical model is developed to describe the evolution of the concentration of compounds through a gas chromatography column. The model couples mass balances and kinetic equations for all components. Both single and multiple-component cases are considered with constant or variable velocity. Dimensional analysis is employed to identify negligible terms and so reduce the problem to the solution of a single integral equation. From this the concentration profile for all components may be determined (since they are scaled versions of each other). The full governing equations are also solved numerically to verify the analytical approach. Finally the analytical results are compared with experimental data, showing excellent agreement. This novel method is highly efficient and is significantly faster and simpler than previous numerical approaches.