Seminar - “Gas Adsorption: From Materials to Industrial Applications” by Mladen Eic, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick

ABSTRACT: The field of adsorption has continued to advance rapidly in recent years. Advances in both fundamental and applied research have been truly remarkable. As some aspects have approached maturity, research in related areas has been initiated.

The main focus of this presentation is related to adsorbent characterizations, in particular adsorption kinetics, e.g., diffusion in nanoporous materials and application of adsorption in separation and purification processes. In each of these areas the emphasis will be given to topics related to research carried out at the University of New Brunswick for the last three decades. Some of the highlights will include diffusion measurements using the Zero Length Column (ZLC) GC method, and pressure swing adsorption (PSA) modelling and experiments. The examples will be given regarding the use of ZLC method in diffusion path analysis and binary mixture diffusion study related to kinetic separation of CO2 from light hydrocarbons, as well as the PSA modelling and experiments for the analysis of process of CO₂ separation from N₂ using commercial adsorbents.

The presentation will also briefly discuss key areas for advances and future trends in the adsorption field.

Bio-Sketch:  Mladen Eic

Is a full Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, since 1999.  Adjunct Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Canada. He received his PhD, MSc, BSc in Chemical Engineering and BSc in Chemistry with 27 years of research and 23 years of teaching experience in the academic field, as well as 14 years of varied experience in the chemical and petrochemical industry. Fields of Interest:  Surface characterization of nanoporous materials, carbon nanotubes and novel adsorbents and catalysts, synthesis of nanoporous materials, adsorption and diffusion in gas and liquid systems, adsorption modelling, design of pressure and temperature swing adsorption processes for separation of gases, gas membranes, mass transport processes.