Adsorption Characteristics of Nitrogen and Oxygen on Natural Zeolite

Abstract

The adsorption characteristics of nitrogen and oxygen on acid-treated and cation-exchanged Korean natural zeolite(mordenite type) was investigated. Pore volume of natural zeolite increased, whereas adsorption amount of nitrogen decreased with the treatment of acid. When metal ion of natural zeolite was exchanged with , the adsorption amount of nitrogen increased with increasing cation size. Although a similar tendency was observed in alkali metal ion exchange, i.e., the natural zeolite adsorbed more nitrogen than the , the resulted in decrease of nitrogen adsorption due to large decrease in pore volume. With a separation factor of 8.9 and adsorption amount of 7.4 ml/g nitrogen , the natural zeolite brought a good result as an adsorbent to be used in separation of nitrogen and oxygen.