Thermal Diffusion and Partial Molar Enthalpy Variations of n-Butane in Silicalite-1

We report for the first time the heat of transfer and the Soret coefficient for n-butane in silicalite-1. The heat of transfer was typically 10 kJ/mol. The Soret coefficient was typically 0.006 K-1 at 360 K. Both varied with the temperature and the concentration. The thermal conductivity of the crystal with butane adsorbed was 1.46 +/- 0.07 W/m K. Literature values of the isosteric enthalpy of adsorption, the concentration at saturation, and the diffusion coefficients were reproduced. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were used to find these results, and a modified heat-exchange algorithm, Soft-HEX, was developed for the purpose. Enthalpies of butane were also determined. We use these results to give numerical proof for a recently proposed relation, that the heat of transfer plus the partial molar enthalpy of butane is constant at a given temperature. The proof is offered for a regime where the partial molar enthalpy can be approximated by the molar internal energy. This result may add to the understanding of the sign of the Soret coefficient. The technical importance of the heat of transfer is discussed.