An investigation was made of the dynamic processes of 1:4 acetone/nitrogen mixed gas permeating through various Al2O3 microporous membranes. Three systems were modelled by considering different box lengths, microporous sizes and textures of Al2O3membranes in order to compare different permeation behaviors. In each system, the initial mixed gas contained 20 acetone molecules and 80 nitrogen molecules, and its density was set to 0.1g/cm3. Analysis of the concentration profiles of nitrogen molecules (N2) and acetone molecules (Ace) in each system at different sampling times was implemented with regard to the permeation behaviors of the smaller N2 and larger Ace. The results showed that adsorption and diffusion occurred synchronously, but adsorption was predominant for acetone molecules.

For nitrogen, adsorption followed diffusion. A higher temperature favoured the enrichment of acetone on the floor surface of the feed gas region but not the adsorption of nitrogen.

Study on Permeation of Acetone/Nitrogen Mixed Gas through Al2O3 Microporous Membranes: Molecular Dynamics. Yin, K., Xu, D.: Chemical Engineering Communications, 2006, 193[12], 1678-88