New pi-complexation adsorbents for propane-propylene separation.
New adsorbents were prepared and tested for the separation of propane-propylene mixtures by adsorption. The ordered mesoporous material SBA-15 was used as the starting material for silver-ion deposition for pi-complexation with propylene. Two different loadings of silver were evaluated. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetic measurements of propane and propylene in the matrix (pure SBA-15) and the silver-modified adsorbents were performed at 323, 343, and 373 K. In this temperature range, the selectivity of propylene in one of the materials (Ag/SBA-15 = 0.5) is in the range 13-22 because the amount of propane adsorbed is very small, 0.095 mmol/g of propane versus 1.12 mmol/g of propylene at 100 kPa and 343 K. The diffusivity of both hydrocarbons is not seriously affected by the introduction of silver into the mesoporous structure.
Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Carlos A
CA
Grande
José D P
JD
Araujo
Simone
S
Cavenati
Norberto
N
Firpo
Elena
E
Basaldella
Alírio E
AE
Rodrigues