Using silver exchange to achieve high uptake and selectivity for propylene/ propane separation in zeolite Y
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Adsorptive separation of propylene and propane, an important step of polypropylene production, is more energy-efficient than distillation. However, the challenge lies in the design of an adsorbent which exhibits both high selectivity and uptake. Herein, we hypothesise that enhancing the propylene affinity of the adsorption sites while keeping a suitable pore size can address this challenge. To do so, we performed silver exchange of a commercial zeolite Y, thereby making the adsorbent design easily scalable. We characterised the adsorbent using analytical, spectroscopic and imaging tools, tested its equilibrium and dynamic sorption properties using volumetric and gravimetric techniques and compared its performance to those of state-of-the-art adsorbents as well as other silver-functionalised adsorbents. The silver-exchanged zeolite Y (Ag-Y) exhibited one of the best selectivity vs uptake performances reported so far. Ag-Y also displayed fast adsorption kinetics and reversible propylene sorption, making it a promising new benchmark for propylene/propane separation. Synchrotron-based pair distribution function analyses identified the silver cations’ location which confirmed that the silver sites are easily accessible to the adsorbates. This aspect can, in part, explain the propylene/propane separation performance observed. The overall design strategy proposed here to enhance sorption site affinity and maintain pore size could be extended to other adsorbents and support the deployment of adsorption technology for propylene/propane separation.
Date Issued
2022-10-15
Date Acceptance
2022-05-18
Citation
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 446
ISSN
1385-8947
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume
446
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc-nd/4.0/).
nc-nd/4.0/).
Sponsor
BP International Limited
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000806868700003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
BP Proj Ref 75195(24)ICAM24
RG/150258
EP/S023259/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Engineering, Environmental
Engineering, Chemical
Engineering
Propylene
propane separation
Silver exchange
Ag-Y
Propylene uptake
Propylene selectivity
METAL-ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS
PI-COMPLEXATION
OLEFIN/PARAFFIN SEPARATIONS
EFFICIENT SEPARATION
KINETIC SEPARATION
ADSORPTION
SORBENTS
PROPENE
SITES
ADSORBENTS
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 137104