Nitrogen Gas Adsorption in Zeolites 13X and 5A

Since the discovery of zeolites there has been a consistent interest in the potential applications of these microporous structures. Of current particular interest is the possible use of zeolites as storage devices for fuel cells in the hydrogen economy. The adsorption kinetics of zeolites are not fully understood, and therefore the potential of such materials has not been optimized. In this study, the nitrogen adsorption isotherms for zeolite 13X in its commercial, pellet form and then as a crushed sample were obtained at 95K and 77K. This study compares the two isotherms obtained from zeolite 13X in its pellet form with those obtained after the zeolite was crushed. Once obtained, the isotherms showed that it is beneficial the for adsorption volume to crush the zeolite. The experiment also revealed that more adsorbate (in this case nitrogen gas) is adsorbed at lower temperatures. The same procedures were performed on a crushed sample of zeolite 5A. This report includes the adsorption isotherms for Zeolite 5A at 95K and at 77K. It was found that zeolite 5A reaches its saturation point more rapidly at higher temperatures. Also included is a section focused on informing the reader of some possible sources of error in this study, and of some techniques that were found to be useful in zeolite experimentation.