What is a 5A Molecular Sieve?

5A molecular sieve is an alkali aluminosilicate in the calcium form of a Type A crystal structure with a pore size of 5 angstroms (0.5 nm). It can adsorb any molecule with a diameter smaller than 5 angstroms (0.5 nm). Not only does it have the functions of 3A, and 4A molecular sieves, but it also adsorbs C3-C4 n-alkanes, ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide, butanol, etc.

Zeolite molecular sieve 5A can be applied to the separation of n-isomeric hydrocarbons, pressure swing adsorption (PSA) for gases, and the co-adsorption of water and carbon dioxide.

Parameters of 5A Zeolite

Application of 5A Molecular Sieve

PSA hydrogen purification

Hydrogen is usually produced in an impure form. Typical processes include chemical synthesis through steam reforming of methane, gas removal from a styrene or ethylene plant where hydrogen is produced as a by-product, and petrochemical applications such as hydrocracking or desulfurization. To use hydrogen, a purification process is required. Hydrogen pressure swing adsorption (H2PSA) is a process that exploits the volatility of hydrogen and its overall lack of polarity and affinity for zeolite to purify contaminated air streams.

Hydrogen production usually includes the production of contaminants or by-products which need to be removed. It includes compounds such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water, and unreacted hydrocarbons. Hydrogen PSA uses preferential adsorption of these components to remove them from the hydrogen stream to produce purified hydrogen.

Traditionally, hydrogen PSA uses multiple screening beds and consists of four stages: adsorption, decompression, regeneration, and re-pressurization. In this process, impure hydrogen flows into a sieve bed where impurities are selectively adsorbed to the under pressure. After the adsorption, regeneration is accomplished by decompressing the bed, which reduces the affinity of the impurities and thus allows them to be discarded. Further purification of the bed is achieved by purging with pure hydrogen to remove any remaining contaminants. The bed is pressurized again to repeat the adsorption process. The beds run synchronously to allow continuous hydrogen production.

Natural Gas Processing & Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Cryogenic natural gas processing plants, liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, and fractionation plants adopt molecular sieves to remove water and other contaminants from gas and liquid flow to very low levels. Naike chemical, as a leading , offers a wide range of zeolite products for natural gas dehydration and processing to meet final quality specifications for pipelines, natural gas liquids (NGL), and fractionated liquid products (propane, butane, isobutane, pentane, isopentane, hexane +) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Our molecular sieve products effectively remove water, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptan, oxygen-containing compounds, and carbon dioxide contaminants during gas processing and treatment.

Petrochemical products

Petrochemical plants use a variety of olefin and other hydrocarbon feedstock streams to produce products. Lower olefin, ethylene, and propylene are the most widely used feedstocks in the petrochemical industry. Ethylene is the primary raw material used to meet most of the global demand for polyethene, ethylene oxide, dichloroethane, and styrene. Propylene is the main raw material used in the production of polypropylene, propylene oxide, acrylonitrile, isopropyl benzene, and acrylic acid. More than 50% of ethylene and propylene produced globally is used to produce polymers. 

Impurities in ethylene and propylene include water, oxygenated compounds, and sulfur compounds that can negatively affect plant performance, damage equipment, and poison catalysts used in downstream reaction processes. Naike chemical 3A zeolite molecular sieves are primarily used to remove water in these applications, while 13X zeolite and other speciality adsorbents are used to remove oxygen-containing compounds and sulfur impurities to low levels, thus ensuring reliable, efficient, and predictable plant performance.

Applications that require molecular sieves include ethylene units that produce pyrolysis gas from a variety of hydrocarbon feedstocks. Other applications include drying ethylene and propylene feed streams in polymer plants, drying ethylene and propylene stored in underground caves, and a variety of small speciality applications that require very clean olefin feed streams.

Zeolite 5A Storage and Regeneration

Storage

should be stored in the original pack or air-proof package in cool and dry conditions and should not be exposed to open air.

Regeneration

can be regenerated by increasing temperature or reducing pressure.

Drum Packing

Super Sack