Sorption of N2, O2, and Ar in Mn(II)-Exchanged Zeolites A and X Using Volumetric Measurements and Grand Canonical Monte Carlo Simulation

Abstract

The adsorption of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon has been studied in Mn(II)-cation-exchanged zeolite A and X powders and pellets at 288.2 and 303 K. Experimentally measured adsorption isotherms are compared with theoretically calculated data using grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. Nitrogen showed higher adsorption capacity and selectivity than oxygen and argon in these zeolite samples. Mn(II)-exchanged zeolite A (αO2/Ar = 1.2−1.4) and X (αO2/Ar = 1.4−1.8) showed small selectivity for oxygen over argon. In zeolite A, the adsorption capacity for nitrogen, oxygen, and argon increases with the increase in Mn(II) exchange levels. In the case of zeolite X, the adsorption capacity for nitrogen increases at lower adsorption pressures upon Mn(II) cation exchange, but at higher equilibrium pressures, the nitrogen adsorption capacity is slightly lower than that of NaX in the granular form. However, Mn(II)-exchanged zeolite X powder showed increased adsorption capacity for nitrogen, oxygen, and argon with i...