Separation of hexane isomers on zeolites mordenite and beta

Abstract

A gas chromatographic technique has been used to study the separation properties of mordenite and beta zeolites towards 3-methylpentane and 2,3-dimethylbutane at elevated temperatures (300–350 °C). Mordenite(Na, K) and beta(H, Ba) were found to be successful at separating these two hexane isomers. To establish the cause for the obtained separation of the hexane isomers, the heats of adsorption and the diffusion coefficients of the hexane isomers on the modified zeolites were studied using pulse gas chromatography. The results showed that the separation of 2,3-dimethylbutane and 3-methylpentane on mordenite(Na, K) and beta(H, Ba) zeolites is based on differences in the heats of adsorption of these two hexane isomers on the above-mentioned zeolites and that it is also diffusion controlled.