Adsorptive properties of X zeolites modified by transition metal cation exchange

Abstract

The ionic exchange of the NaX zeolite by Ni2+ and Cr3+ cations was progressively driven and studied by adsorption of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. For each cation-exchanged X zeolite sample, the development of characteristics such as profile of isotherms, RI criterion, isosteric adsorption heat and microporous volume using both the Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) equation and the t-plot, was followed through the nitrogen adsorption. Results show that the cationic exchange process, in the case of Cr3+ introduced at middle degree, is accompanied by a textural damage for Cr(x)X, in contrast to Ni2+-exchanged X zeolites. This degradation occurs without significant presence of mesopores, because the RI criterion values were found to be much lower than 2.2. The CO2 adsorption isotherms were measured at intervals of 30 K from 273 K and the equilibrium pressures ranged from 0.5 to 600 Torr. The experimental data were correlated by the Toth model. The associated three adjustable parameters were estimated by nonlinear least-squares analysis. The effect of temperature on the model parameters and the Henry’s law slope, KH, represented by the product of Toth parameters, are discussed.