Gas adsorption with molecular sieve zeolites.

Abstract

Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium of CH$\sb4$, CO and N$\sb2$ gases were studied on various molecular sieve zeolites. Ethylyne was also tested, yet was found to be incompatible with the molecular sieves under consideration. The gas chromatographic technique was chosen as the method of studying the adsorption by which equilibrium and kinetic parameters are derived by matching the response peak to appropriate mathematical models. It was found that the synthetic zeolites (H-Mordenite, 4A zeolite, 5A zeolite) rather than naturally occurring Chabazite had a higher capacity for the adsorption of all three gases. Pure and binary gas isotherms of CH$\sb4$ and CO with molecular sieve 5A were also studied for the separation of these gases. These isotherms indicated that under the present conditions CO is preferentially adsorbed on the 5A zeolite and the adsorption capacity of the sieve increases with decreased temperature.