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MOLECULAR SIEVES
Definition: Molecular sieves are a microporous material which can selectively adsorb gases and liquids. They are synthetic zeolites (crystalline metal aluminosilicates) which upon dehydration can efficiently and selectively remove water or other solvents. The selectivity of a molecular sieve is determined by its pore size, molecules with a critical diameter which is less than the pore size will be efficiently adsorbed while larger molecules will be excluded. See Table 2 for a list of common molecules and their critical diameters. Standard sieves come in 3 , 4, 5, and 10 (13X) pore sizes.
Literature Reference: Breck, D.W. J. Chem. Ed. 1964, 41, 678.

Regeneration of Molecular Sieves: To regenerate the adsorptive power of the material, it is usually heated and purged with carrier gas (large scale applications). For smaller scale applications, they can be dried in a drying oven followed by slow cooling in a closed environment (a dessicator).

Table I: Adapted from SigmaAldrich.com (see reference below)

Type: 3A Composition: 0.6 K2O: 0.40 Na2O : 1 Al2O3 : 2.0 0.1 SiO2 : x H2O Description: The 3A form is made by substituting potassium cations for the inherent sodium ions of the 4A structure, reducing the effective pore size to ~3, excluding diameter >3, e.g., ethane. Major Applications: Commercial dehydration of unsaturated hydrocarbon streams, including cracked gas, propylene, butadiene, acetylene; drying polar liquids such as methanol and ethanol. Useful for adsorption of molecules such as NH3 and H2O from a N2/H2 flow. Considered a general-purpose drying agent in polar and non-polar media. Regeneration Temperature: 175-260 C Type: 4A Composition: 1 Na2O: 1 Al2O3: 2.0 0.1 SiO2 : x H2O

Description: This sodium form represents the type A family of molecular sieves. Effective pore opening is 4, thus excluding molecules of effective diameter >4, e.g., propane. Major Applications: Preferred for static dehydration in closed liquid or gas systems, e.g., in packaging of drugs, electric components and perishable chemicals; water scavenging in printing and plastics systems and drying saturated hydrocarbon streams. Adsorbed species include SO2, CO2, H2S, C2H4, C2H6, and C3H6. Generally considered a universal drying agent in polar and nonpolar media. Regeneration Temperature: 200-315 C Type: 5A Composition: 0.80 CaO : 0.20 Na2O : 1 Al2O3: 2.0 0.1 SiO2: x H2O Description: Divalent calcium ions in place of sodium cations give apertures of ~5 which exclude molecules of effective diameter >5, e.g., all 4-carbon rings, and iso-compounds. Major Applications: Separation of normal paraffins from branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons; removal of H2S, CO2 and mercaptans from natural gas. Molecules adsorbed include nC4H10, nC4H9OH, C3H8 to C22H46, and dichlorodifluoro-methane (Freon 12). Regeneration Temperature: 200-315 C Type: 13X Composition: 1 Na2O: 1 Al2O3 : 2.8 0.2 SiO2 : x H2O Description: The sodium form represents the basic structure of the type X family, with an effective pore opening in the 9-10 range. Will not adsorb (C4F9)3N, for example. Major Applications: Commercial gas drying, air plant feed purification (simultaneous H2O and CO2 removal) and liquid hydrocarbon/natural gas sweetening (H2S and mercaptan removal). Regneration Temperature: 200-315 C

Table 2: Critical Diameters of Common Molecules (adapted from Sigma Aldrich.com)

Molecule Helium Propylene Hydrogen Critical Diameter (A) 2.0 5.0 2.4 Molecule Ammonia Cyclohexane Hydrogen Sulfide Critical Diameter (A) 3.6 6.1 3.6

Ethyl Mercaptan Acetylene 1-Butene Oxygen Trans-2Butene Carbon Monoxide 1,3Butadiene Carbon Dioxide ChloroDifluoroMethane Nitrogen Thiophene Water Ethane Propane Isobutane to Isodocosane

5.1 2.4 5.1 2.8 5.1 2.8 5.2 2.8 5.3 3.0 5.3 3.2 4.4 4.9 5.6

Benzene Argon Toluene Methane p-Xylene Ethylene Carbon Tetrachloride Ethylene Oxide Chloroform m-Xylene Methyl Mercaptan o-Xylene TriethylAmine n-Butane to n-Docosane

6.7 3.8 6.7 4.0 6.7 4.2 6.9 4.2 6.9 7.1 4.5 7.4 8.4 4.9

http://chem.rochester.edu/~nvd/molecularsieves.html
ormation Name: Model selection standards supply natural gas dehydration molecular sieve Published: 2013-03-17 Validity: 365 Specifications: Complete Quantity: 500.00 Price Description: Detailed Product Descripti

The molecular sieve is a natural or synthetic zeolite

on type aluminosilicate. Have a uniform pore size of pores

and neatly arranged in the structure of zeolite cavities. These cavities not only provides a great specific surface area, but it only allows a smaller diameter than the aperture molecules to enter, while the molecules larger than the pore size can not enter, so that the molecular sieve adsorption molecules have a strong selectivity. Depending on the size of the aperture, and molecular sieves SiO2 Al2O3 molar ratio, molecular sieve can be divided into several different models, see Table 2.1. The X zeolite adsorption all be A-type zeolite adsorption of molecules, and has a slightly higher capacity of the wet [11]. Natural gas purification process, the nominal diameter of several common substances molecules listed in Table 2.2. Molecules of H2O, CO2 and H2S diameter is less than 4 10-10m, the diameter of the hydrocarbon molecules are larger than 4 10 Table 2-1 several popular models of molecular sieve SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of aperture / ( 10 - 10m) chemical composition (M2/nO Al2O3 x SiO2 yH2O) 3A (potassium Type A) 2 3 3.3 2/3K2O 1/3Na2O Al2O3 SiO2 4.5H2O 4A (sodium type A) 4.2 to 4.7 Na2O Al2O3 2SiO2 4.5H2O 5A (the calcium type A) 4.9 to 5.6 0.7CaO the 0.3Na2O Al2O3 2SiO2 4.5H2O 10X (calcium X type) 2.2 to 3.3 8 to 9 0.8CaO 0.2Na2O Al2O3 3.3 to 6 about 2.5SiO2 6H2O 13X (sodium X-type) 2.3 ~ 3.3. 9 ~~ 10 of Na2O Al2O3 2.5SiO2 8H2O Y (sodium Y type) 3.3 to 9 to 10 of Na2O Al2O3 5SiO2 8H2O sodium mordenite 5 Na2O Al2O3 10SiO2 6 ~ 7H2O molecular sieve tower in the molecular sieve dehydration system needed two molecular sieves tower. A tower for the dewatering operation, another tower for the regeneration of the adsorbent and the cooling, and then the switching operation. During regeneration, all of the adsorbed material by heating and desorption, to prepare for the next adsorption cycle for that column. Set of molecular sieve dust filter of dust filters molecular sieve dehydration. The role of the dust filter is a particle of the molecular sieve gas separation after dewatering

carrying dust and other impurities. In a high-speed under flow conditions, the fine solid particles causes the device generates a lot of wear and tear, so long-term stable operation of the dust filter of the system is required. (3) angry angry furnace furnace gas heating, the temperature reached 300 C and then angry. The heated regeneration gas to enter the molecular sieve column thermostat after the to 280 period of time, the removal of the water adsorbed on the molecular sieve, the molecular sieve column to re-adsorption function. gas heat exchanger, heat exchanger selection of gas - gas heat exchanger. The role of gas - gas heat exchanger is the imported natural gas output in the low-temperature dry gas heat exchanger, can further reduce the temperature of the imported natural gas, and can raise the temperature of the dry gas output to reach the full utilization of the energy. regenerator cooler regeneration gas cooler serves to reduce the temperature of the gas entering the separator, can be used such as water cooling or air cooling method. It is common to reduce the inlet temperature in the cryogenic gas condensation method dewatering process, can be achieved under the same conditions as the dew point of the lower, is conducive to improve the depth of the dewatering. regeneration gas separator in the separated liquid, but also contains some of the gas, the regeneration gas separator role of this part of gas separation and gas enter the dry gas system