Preface
The application of zeolites as selective adsorbents for separation processes is one of
the most recognizable uses of this family of porous materials. Indeed, the earliest
contributions of pioneers in zeolite research, like R.M. Barrer, D.W. Breck, and E.D.
Flanigen, among many others pointed out the very special features of zeolites for
separating molecules of different sizes and/or polarities. Thus, the whole family of
zeolitic materials was named as “molecular sieves.”
The most common industrial applications of molecular sieves involve drying of
gases or liquids, being commercialized as molecular sieves 3A, 4A, 5A, and 13X,
among others. Other industrial separations based on the use of zeolites as adsorbents
are linear from branched hydrocarbon separation and O 2 recovery from air. However, the field of zeolite-based selective adsorbents is in constant evolution and new
relevant separation processes are under development, such as CO 2 trapping from
exhaust gases, olefins/paraffins separation, methane upgrading, etc. This blooming
research area is based on the discovery of new zeolitic materials with varied
structural porosity and in the possibility of tuning the polarity of the zeolite adsorbent by controlling its chemical composition and/or presence of structural defects.
Thus, there is a growing interest to increase the understanding of such selective
adsorbents and this volume aims to compile and discuss the fundamental and
multidisciplinary knowledge on adsorption and separation processes using zeolites
as adsorbents.
The first chapter shows how the control of zeolite properties, such as pore
aperture, extra-framework cations, and chemical composition, may enhance the
selectivity during small molecules separation processes as well as possibly reducing
the energy consumption of currently used technologies. This has been nicely exemplified for CO 2 adsorption, small hydrocarbon separation, and other small molecules
(noble gases, water, etc.).
For achieving this degree of adsorbent engineering, it is mandatory to carefully
characterize the porosity of the zeolitic adsorbents. The second chapter is a comprehensive overview of the best practices for textural characterization following the
v
The application of zeolites as selective adsorbents for separation processes is one of
the most recognizable uses of this family of porous materials. Indeed, the earliest
contributions of pioneers in zeolite research, like R.M. Barrer, D.W. Breck, and E.D.
Flanigen, among many others pointed out the very special features of zeolites for
separating molecules of different sizes and/or polarities. Thus, the whole family of
zeolitic materials was named as “molecular sieves.”
The most common industrial applications of molecular sieves involve drying of
gases or liquids, being commercialized as molecular sieves 3A, 4A, 5A, and 13X,
among others. Other industrial separations based on the use of zeolites as adsorbents
are linear from branched hydrocarbon separation and O 2 recovery from air. However, the field of zeolite-based selective adsorbents is in constant evolution and new
relevant separation processes are under development, such as CO 2 trapping from
exhaust gases, olefins/paraffins separation, methane upgrading, etc. This blooming
research area is based on the discovery of new zeolitic materials with varied
structural porosity and in the possibility of tuning the polarity of the zeolite adsorbent by controlling its chemical composition and/or presence of structural defects.
Thus, there is a growing interest to increase the understanding of such selective
adsorbents and this volume aims to compile and discuss the fundamental and
multidisciplinary knowledge on adsorption and separation processes using zeolites
as adsorbents.
The first chapter shows how the control of zeolite properties, such as pore
aperture, extra-framework cations, and chemical composition, may enhance the
selectivity during small molecules separation processes as well as possibly reducing
the energy consumption of currently used technologies. This has been nicely exemplified for CO 2 adsorption, small hydrocarbon separation, and other small molecules
(noble gases, water, etc.).
For achieving this degree of adsorbent engineering, it is mandatory to carefully
characterize the porosity of the zeolitic adsorbents. The second chapter is a comprehensive overview of the best practices for textural characterization following the
v