Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-28-2026

Abstract

Predicting gas transport in nanoporous geological material requires understanding competitive adsorption and transport under humid conditions. However, most adsorption studies rely on single-component equilibrium measurements that do not capture these effects. This dissertation develops an experimental methodology to directly quantify multicomponent gas adsorption and breakthrough behavior under controlled relative humidity. The method was first applied to the Kr/Xe–N2–H2O system, where it resolved competitive adsorption behavior in humid porous media and produced a bivariate model relating noble gas adsorption to noble gas partial pressure and water saturation. The methodology was then extended to the CO2–N2 H2O system. Results showed that water vapor strongly reduces CO2 retention by preferentially occupying adsorption sites and can also displace previously adsorbed CO2, altering uptake kinetics and breakthrough behavior. These findings provide a framework for understanding gas retention and transport in humid nanoporous geological material.

Keywords

competitive adsorption, nanopores, clinoptilolite, water vapor, noble gas

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Chemical Engineering

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Chemical and Biological Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Shuya Wei

Second Committee Member

Sungjin Kim

Third Committee Member

Adrian Brearley

Fourth Committee Member

Guangping Xu

Download

Share

COinS