Differential calorimetric enthalpies of adsorption ofp-xylene andm-xylene on y faujasites at 25°C

The differential enthalpies of adsorption ofp-xylene andm-xylene on NaY, KY and BaY zeolites were measured by isothermal calorimetry coupled with isothermal volumetry at 25C. Whatever the zeolite, the enthalpies of adsorption ofp-xylene andm-xylene at low filling were of the same order of magnitude. They did not show significantly the effect of the dipolar moment ofm-xylene. Their absolute values varied in the sequence Q ₀(pX/NaY)<Q ₀(pX/KY) =Q ₀(mX/KY)<Q ₀(pX/BaY)<Q ₀(mX/NaY) =Q ₀(mX/BaY)During the adsorption of the third molecule of xylene per -cage, BaY zeolite exhibited specific behaviour: the differential enthalpies of adsorption decreased with the filling of the -cages in such a way that they became lower than those of the other two zeolites. Some arguments concerning the structures of the zeolite and xylene molecules can explain such behaviour. Whatever the zeolite, the adsorption capacity of the -cages was 3.5 molec.^–1. For relative pressures ranging from 0.2 to 0.5, an additional adsorption of about 0.1 molec.^–1 occurred on the external surface.     

Derivative Enthalpies of Adsorption of p-Xylene and m-xylene onto NaY and BaY Zeolites at 150°C: Contribution to the prediction of adsorption selectivity

The derivative enthalpies of adsorption of m-xylene and p-xylene onto the NaY and BaY zeolites were measured at 150°C, then compared with those obtained at 25°C, and finally used to predict the selectivity of adsorption of xylene mixtures. Significant differences were observed as the temperature was elevated: for the NaY zeolite, the adsorbate-adsorbate interactions became prevalent, in contrast with the BaY zeolite, between zeolite and derivative interactions were stronger. The difference between the adsorption derivative enthalpies of the two xylenes displayed an abrupt variation from 2 molec. ^–1 for both zeolites, the filling from which selectivity towards m-xylene for the NaY zeolite and towards p-xylene for the BaY zeolite appeared. The preferentially adsorbed xylene was closely connected with the sense of this difference, which changed with the zeolite.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.