Para-xylene adsorption separation process using nano-zeolite Ba-X

Abstract

The liquid phase adsorption process was studied on nano-zeolite Ba-X for separating para-xylene from a feed mixture containing all C8 aromatics. Nano-zeolite Ba-X with different ratios of SiO2/Al2O3 was synthesized through hydrothermal process and ion-exchanged with barium. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption and in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The adsorption process was carried out in a breakthrough system at temperature range of 120–160°C under 4–7atm pressure. The influence of nano-zeolite water content on the separation process was studied. The optimization of adsorption process was also investigated by changing the operation conditions. The adsorption isotherm for all C8 aromatic isomers and also desorbents indicated the typical Langmuir type. The selectivity factor of adsorbent for para-xylene and the adsorption capacity at saturation of the different adsorbate samples with each component from C8 aromatic mixture were determined. It was observed that the selectivity of para-xylene increased by barium ion-exchange of cationic sites in nano-zeolite X and the adsorbent selectivity for para-xylene relative to each of meta-xylene, ortho-xylene and ethyl-benzene under the optimum conditions was found to be 7.191, 2.819 and 3.745, in the order given. It was also studied the influence of desorbent type on its selectivity for para-xylene compared to each isomer from the C8 aromatic mixture.