Selective adsorption of ethylene over ethane on natural mordenite and on K+-exchanged mordenite

Pure-component adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of ethylene (C2H4) and ethane (C2H6) on natural mordenite (ZNT) from Tamaulipas, Mexico, and on cation-exchanged mordenite samples (1.5 K-ZNT and 1.8 K-ZNT) were measured at 0, 20, 60, and 100 A degrees C using a glass high-vacuum volumetric system. The measured data were analyzed using the Dual Langmuir model. All of the samples showed selectivity toward ethylene. The adsorbed amounts of ethane and ethylene on the 1.5 K-ZNT and 1.8 K-ZNT samples were lower than those on ZNT; this result can be due to a decrease in micropore volume because of the presence of the K+ cations in the cation-exchanged samples. It was established that the adsorptive separation of these gases on ZNT can be effected most efficiently at 100 A degrees C, whereas the use of 1.8 K-ZNT could be recommended at ambient temperature.