Adsorptive properties of X zeolites modified by transition metal cation exchange

The ionic exchange of the NaX zeolite by Ni²⁺ and Cr³⁺ cations was progressively driven and studied by adsorption of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. For each cation-exchanged X zeolite sample, the development of characteristics such as profile of isotherms, RI criterion, isosteric adsorption heat and microporous volume using both the Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) equation and the t-plot, was followed through the nitrogen adsorption. Results show that the cationic exchange process, in the case of Cr³⁺ introduced at middle degree, is accompanied by a textural damage for Cr(x)X, in contrast to Ni²⁺-exchanged X zeolites. This degradation occurs without significant presence of mesopores, because the RI criterion values were found to be much lower than 2.2. The CO₂ adsorption isotherms were measured at intervals of 30 K from 273 K and the equilibrium pressures ranged from 0.5 to 600 Torr. The experimental data were correlated by the Toth model. The associated three adjustable parameters were estimated by nonlinear least-squares analysis. The effect of temperature on the model parameters and the Henry’s law slope, K _H , represented by the product of Toth parameters, are discussed.