Applying hexagonal nanostructured zeolite particles for acetone removal.

This study examines the performance of a new adsorbent, hexagonal nanostructured zeolite particles (HNZP) for acetone adsorption and compares the results with that of commercial mobil synthetic zeolite-5 (ZSM-5) type zeolite. The HNZP is a pure siliceous adsorbent with different values of pore diameter and surface area being adjustable by the manufacturing condition. The results indicate that a slight increase in the average pore diameter (d) of HNZP from 2 to 2.5 nm leads to an increase in the acetone adsorption capacity, although its surface area is decreased, in which case (d = 2.5 nm) the adsorption capacity of fresh HNZP is better than that of ZSM-5 zeolite. Even for the fresh HNZP (d = 2 nm) of which the adsorption capacity is less than that of the ZSM-5 zeolite at relative humidity (RH) of 0%, its adsorption capacity is not deteriorated after repeated regeneration, but the adsorption capacity of regenerated ZSM-5 zeolite decays markedly. Thus, after only one regeneration, the adsorption capacity of HNZP (d = 2 nm) becomes better than that of the ZSM-5 zeolite. The decrease in the adsorption capacity of regenerated ZSM-5 zeolite might be because of its aluminum content that catalyzes the acetone into coke and, thus, blocks the adsorption sites. Furthermore, result on the moisture effect shows that because the pure siliceous HNZP was more hydrophobic than the ZSM-5 zeolite, the acetone adsorption efficiency of fresh HNZP (d = 2 nm) is better than that of ZSM-5 zeolite at RH = 50%.