The Effect of Hydrophobic Modification of Zeolites on CO2 Absorption Enhancement

Two methods of the modification of zeolite were employed: framework element modification and surface coating, and the influence of the zeolites before and after modification on the CO2 absorption was investigated. It was found that although hydrophobicity of zeolite could be obtained by means of the surficial organic coating in the method of surface coating modification, partial channel of zeolite would be plugged, as a result, leading to the surface area reducing greatly. Distinctively, the framework element modification method could maintain not only complete lattice structure and adsorption capability of zeolite, but would also obtain a good hydrophobic property. Consequently, significant enhancement on gas absorption by this modified zeolite was achieved and up to a maximum enhancement factor of 2.62. This shows that the solid particles with good enhancement role to gas absorption need not only good adsorptive capability but also certain hydrophobicity. An unsteady heterogeneous model was employed to predict enhancement factor and the calculated results agree well with the experimental data.