 J. Lawrence Wilson Professor
Education
B.S., ChE, University of Virginia, 1971
Ph.D., ChE, University of California, Berkeley, 1976
Contact Information
Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Vanderbilt University
VU Station B, Box 351604
Nashville, TN 37235-1604
Phone: (615) 343-1672
FAX: (615) 343-7951
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Research
Research is being carried out on several aspects of fixed-bed adsorption for the purpose of improving understanding and design methods. Our interests involve the thermodynamic interpretation and accurate correlation of adsorption equilibria and the prediction of the performance of fixed-bed adsorption systems over repeated cycles. Adsorption from the vapor phase is emphasized. On adsorption equilibria, the group considers theory and experiments ranging from single component adsorption equilibria to highly nonideal multicomponent adsorption such as for mixtures of organic molecules and water. On cycles, both pressure-swing and temperature-swing adsorption are considered with emphasis on the behavior of systems with short cycle times and optimal performance. Research is also being carried out on adsorptive heat pumps to provide halocarbon-free alternatives to current technology.
The laboratory focuses broadly on gas-solid adsorption processes to increase understanding and improve design methods. Research is balanced equally between theory and experiment. Topics of current interest include:
- Adsorption equilibria for highly nonideal multicomponent mixtures and microporous adsorbent materials. Our interests involve the thermodynamic interpretation and accurate correlation of adsorption equilibria. Coadsorption of organic molecules and water on activated carbons has been an area of major focus.
- Modeling of fixed-bed adsorption processes. We develop models of varying degrees of complexity. Some simple models are based on the assumption of local equilibrium. More complex models include complex equilibria, complex rate behavior, and nonisothermal behavior. Additionally, we have developed general methods to give accelerated convergence of the models to the final cyclic condition, i.e., the periodic state. Recent emphasis has been on pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, and adsorptive refrigeration (providing a halocarbon-free alternative to current heat pump technology).
- Treatment of rate mechanisms for fixed-bed adsorption with emphasis on dispersion and on new frequency response experimental methods.
- Synthesis of novel adsorbents. We are emphasizing well characterized, nanoporous carbonaceous materials.
Professional Activities
Society Direction AIChE National Program Committee:
Area 2e (Adsorption and Ion Exchange), Chair, 1985-1987
Group 1 (Engineering Sciences and Fundamentals), Chair, 1989-1991
Group 2 (Separations Division), Chair, 1998
International Adsorption Society: Director, 1992-1998
Editorial Advisory Boards Adsorption, 1993-
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 1997-1999
Meetings Organized Chair, Fifth International Conference on Fundamentals of Adsorption, Pacific Grove, California, May 1995
Co-Director, NSF-CNRS Workshop on Adsorption Processes for Gas Separation, Gif sur Yvette, France, September 1991
Meeting Program Vice Chair, AIChE 1989 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, November 1989
Co-Director, NATO Advanced Study Institute on Adsorption: Science and Technology, Vimeiro, Portugal, July 1988
Professional Short Course "Adsorption Technology," The Center for Professional Advancement, East Brunswick, New Jersey (with K. S. Knaebel and G. V. Baron), 1993, 1996.
Selected Publications LeVan, M. D. (section ed.), Carta, G., and Yon, C. M., “Adsorption and Ion Exchange,” Section 16 in Green, D. W. (ed.), Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (7th edn.), McGraw-Hill, New York, 1997. 8th edition in preparation, 2006.
Walton, K. S., Pigorini, G., and LeVan, M. D., “Simple Group Contribution Theory for Adsorption of Alkanes in Nanoporous Carbons,” Chem. Eng. Sci., 59, 4423-4430 (2004).
Walton, K. S., and LeVan, M. D. “Adsorbed-Phase Heat Capacities: Thermodynamically Consistent Values Determined from Temperature-Dependent Equilibrium Models,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 44, 178-182 (2005).
Wang, Yu, and LeVan, M. D., “New Developments in Flow-Through Apparatus for Measurement of Mass Transfer Rates by Frequency Response Method,” Adsorption, 11, 409-414 (2005).
Walton, K. S., and LeVan, M. D., “Development of Energy Balances for Fixed-Bed Adsorption Processes: Thermodynamic Paths, Heat Capacities, and Isosteric Heats,” Adsorption, 11, 555-559 (2005).
Wang, Yu, and LeVan, M. D., “Investigation of Mixture Diffusion in Nanoporous Adsorbents via the Pressure Swing Frequency Response Method. 1. Theoretical Development,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 44, 3692-3701 (2005).
Qi, N., and LeVan, M. D., “Virial Excess Mixing Coefficient Corrections for the Adsorbed Solution Theory,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 44, 3726-3732 (2005).
Qi, N., and LeVan, M. D., “Coadsorption of Organic Compounds and Water Vapor on BPL Activated Carbon. 5. Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, Toluene, and Modeling,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 44, 3733-3741 (2005).
Wang, Yu, and LeVan, M. D., “Investigation of Mixture Diffusion in Nanoporous Adsorbents via the Pressure Swing Frequency Response Method. 2. Oxygen and Nitrogen in Carbon Molecular Sieve,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 44, 4745-4752 (2005).
Qi, N., and LeVan, M. D., “Adsorption Equilibrium Modeling for Water on Activated Carbons,” Carbon, 43, 2258-2263 (2005).
Walton, K. S., and LeVan, M. D., “Effect of Energy Balance Approximations on Simulation of Fixed-Bed Adsorption,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Research, 44, in press (2005).
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Faculty and Research 
