Zeolite separation mechanisms

Aspects of Mechanisms, Processes, and Requirements for Zeolite Separation... 

This chapter addresses the fundamentals of zeolite separation, starting with (i) impacts of adsorptive separation, a description of liquid phase adsorption, (ii) tools for adsorption development such as isotherms, pulse and breakthrough tests and (iii) requirements for appropriate zeolite characteristics in adsorption. Finally, speculative adsorption mechanisms are discussed. It is the author s intention that this chapter functions as a bridge to connect the readers to Chapters 7 and 8, Liquid Industrial Aromatics Adsorptive Separation and Liquid Industrial Non-Aromatics Adsorptive Separation, respectively. The industrial mode of operation, the UOP Sorbex technology, is described in Chapters 7 and 8. 

I 6 Aspects of Mechanisms, Processes, and Requirements for Zeolite Separation Table 6.5 Base strengths of aromatic hydrocarbons relative to HF. 

The present review of zeolite membrane technology covers synthesis and characterization methods as well as the theoretical aspects of transport and separation mechanisms. Special attention is focused on the performance of zeolite membranes in a variety of applications including liquid-liquid, gas/vapor and reactive... 

Figure 10.5 Summary of the features of separation mechanisms exhibited by zeolite membranes along with common examples. Superscripts 1 high temperature and/or low partial pressure, 2 low temperature and/or high partial pressure.

This chapter provides a brief introduction to polymer and inorganic zeolite membranes and a comprehensive introduction to zeolite/polymer mixed-matrix membranes. It covers the materials, separation mechanism, methods, structures, properties and anticipated potential applications of the zeolite/polymer mixed-matrix membranes. 

Mixed-matrix membranes comprising small-pore zeolite or small-pore non-zeolitic molecular sieve materials will combine the solution-diffusion separation mechanism of the polymer material with the molecular sieving mechanism of the zeolites. The small-pore zeolite or non-zeolitic molecular sieve materials in the mixed-matrix membranes are capable of separating mixtures of molecular species... 

The second part of the book covers zeolite adsorptive separation, adsorption mechanisms, zeolite membranes and mixed matrix membranes in Chapters 5-11. Chapter 5 summarizes the literature and reports adsorptive separation work on specific separation applications organized around the types of molecular species being separated. A series of tables provide groupings for (i) aromatics and derivatives, (ii) non-aromatic hydrocarbons, (iii) carbohydrates and organic acids, (iv) fine chemical and pharmaceuticals, (v) trace impurities removed from bulk materials. Zeolite adsorptive separation mechanisms are theorized in Chapter 6. 

As we have seen previously, the separation mechanism in pervaporation is explained by an adsorption-diffusion process. In this way, the selective adsorption of the components in the zeolite will be responsible for the selectivity in the separation. Adsorption is an exothermic nonactivated process. In general, the isotherm of adsorption on zeohtes follows a single site Langmuir-type isotherm [74]. 

Mordenite membranes were prepared by seeded hydrothermal synthesis onto commercial ceramic tubular supports by Casado et al. (2003) and nsed for the PV of alcohol-water mixtures. It was reported by them that selective adsorption of water on zeolite pores and small intercrystalline defects controlled the separation mechanism in the mordenite. 

While addressing hydrocarbon sorption properties of MOFs, there has been intense debate on the commensurate adsorption of hydrocarbons using MOFs the mean munber of adsorbed hydrocarbon molecules relates to the symmetry of the framework topology, which is nearly impossible in routinely studied/used zeolites [109]. Jing Li et al. reported that adsorption capacity and location of molecules are specifically controlled by cavity size, shape, symmetry, and channel features such as chaimel segment [109]. Three different adsorption mechanisms have been offered for the sorption and separation of hydrocarbons (1) equilibrium (2) steric, and (3) kinetic. In some complex materials, it is possible that one or more mechanisms m operate at the same time. The equilibrium sorption and separation mechanism relies on... 

Deactivation of zeolite catalysts occurs due to coke formation and to poisoning by heavy metals. In general, there are two types of catalyst deactivation that occur in a FCC system, reversible and irreversible. Reversible deactivation occurs due to coke deposition. This is reversed by burning coke in the regenerator. Irreversible deactivation results as a combination of four separate but interrelated mechanisms zeolite dealu-mination, zeolite decomposition, matrix surface collapse, and contamination by metals such as vanadium and sodium. 

The recovery of petroleum from sandstone and the release of kerogen from oil shale and tar sands both depend strongly on the microstmcture and surface properties of these porous media. The interfacial properties of complex liquid agents—mixtures of polymers and surfactants—are critical to viscosity control in tertiary oil recovery and to the comminution of minerals and coal. The corrosion and wear of mechanical parts are influenced by the composition and stmcture of metal surfaces, as well as by the interaction of lubricants with these surfaces. Microstmcture and surface properties are vitally important to both the performance of electrodes in electrochemical processes and the effectiveness of catalysts. Advances in synthetic chemistry are opening the door to the design of zeolites and layered compounds with tightly specified properties to provide the desired catalytic activity and separation selectivity. 

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