Diffusion of Ethane-Hydrogen Mixtures in LiLSX and CaA Zeolites Studied by Diffuse Reflectance IR Spectroscopy

The kinetics of the adsorption of ethane-hydrogen mixtures at low pressures (5–20 Torr) on the zeolites LiLSX and CaA are studied by diffuse reflectance IR spectroscopy. The adsorption of ethane mixed with hydrogen on the granulated zeolites is two orders of magnitude slower than the adsorption of pure ethane. Comparison of the adsorption kinetics of ethane-hydrogen mixtures on granulated samples and thin pellets shows that the transport of ethane into the microcrystals of the granular zeolites is retarded primarily by the counter-diffusion of ethane and hydrogen in the intercrystallite pores.