PSA hydrogen purification

PSA HYDROGEN PURIFICATION

From Molecular Sieves to Complete Hydrogen PSA Systems

JALON provides specialized molecular sieve adsorbents for PSA hydrogen purification. Working with experienced engineering partners, we also offer PSA process technology, engineering design, equipment supply and EPC solutions for new hydrogen purification projects and existing unit upgrades.

Discuss Your PSA Project

JALON Hydrogen PSA Adsorbents

A specialized molecular sieve portfolio designed for different feed-gas compositions, impurity-removal requirements and PSA operating conditions.

JLPH5

Strength for cyclic service

JLPH5S

Adsorption at low impurity pressure

JLFA

Rapid uptake in short cycles

Explore Product Series

Convert hydrogen-rich feed gas into reliable product gas

Hydrogen from reforming, refinery and chemical processes commonly contains carbon oxides, nitrogen, methane, moisture and residual hydrocarbons. Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) purification selectively removes these impurities while allowing hydrogen to pass through as product gas.

How PSA hydrogen purification works

Adsorption and regeneration take place in different beds during staggered PSA cycles, enabling continuous hydrogen production.

01 FEED GAS

Hydrogen-rich feed

H₂ enters the unit with process-specific impurities.

02 ADSORPTION

Impurities retained

Adsorbent layers selectively retain non-hydrogen components.

03 PRODUCT H₂

Continuous output

Purified hydrogen passes through during adsorption, while multiple beds operate in sequence to maintain continuous product flow.

04 REGENERATION

Bed restored

Depressurization and purging release impurities before the bed is repressurized for the next cycle.

Hydrogen-Rich Feed Gas Sources

Not all hydrogen-rich gases are alike. Their composition, pressure and impurity levels determine the pretreatment and adsorbent configuration needed for effective PSA purification.

Typical PSA Feed Gases
Steam reformer gas
Refinery off-gas
Coke oven gas
Chemical off-gas
Methanol Cracking Gas
Gasification Syngas

Where Purified Hydrogen Is Used

Hydrogen purity and impurity limits vary by downstream application. JALON’s adsorbent expertise, combined with suitable PSA process design, helps address different hydrogen quality requirements. Additional polishing may be required to meet more stringent end-use standards.

Typical Downstream Applications
Refinery Hydrotreating
Hydrocracking
Chemical Hydrogenation
Ammonia Synthesis
Methanol Synthesis
Fuel-Cell Hydrogen
OUR SOLUTION

JALON PSA Hydrogen Purification Adsorbents

JALON develops specialized molecular sieve adsorbents for PSA hydrogen purification, designed to remove key impurities such as CO, CH₄ and N₂ from hydrogen-rich gas streams. Our products are developed to meet the separation and cyclic operating demands of industrial PSA units.

Rather than relying on a single adsorbent grade, JALON offers a series with different adsorption characteristics, impurity uptake rates and mechanical properties. Product selection can be tailored to feed-gas composition, separation requirements and operating conditions for new PSA units and adsorbent replacement projects.

Adsorbents matched to your PSA duty.

Select for impurity removal, cycle response and bed durability based on your feed gas and operating conditions.

01

JLPH5

Combines CO, CH₄ and N₂ adsorption with high mechanical strength to help maintain bed integrity through repeated PSA cycles.

02

JLPH5S

Provides enhanced impurity adsorption, particularly at low partial pressures, for duties requiring deeper removal of residual impurities.

03

JLFA​

Offers strong dynamic adsorption performance and rapid impurity uptake to support effective bed use in short-cycle PSA operation.

PROCESS & ENGINEERING PARTNERSHIP

Beyond Adsorbents: PSA Process & Engineering Solutions

Through close cooperation with Hanxing Energy, JALON combines specialized molecular sieve adsorbents with established PSA process technology and engineering expertise to offer integrated hydrogen purification solutions, supported by extensive industrial project experience.

Built around the requirements of your unit

01

PSA Process Technology

Analyze feed composition, pressure and impurity levels to define pretreatment and adsorbent-bed arrangements, then configure the PSA cycle around hydrogen purity, recovery and operating targets.

02

Equipment & Modular Engineering

Design PSA adsorption systems and auxiliary equipment around the required capacity and site conditions, with skid-mounted modules that integrate key equipment for efficient installation.

03

EPC & Project Delivery

Support new units and existing-plant upgrades from front-end and detailed design through procurement, construction and commissioning, coordinating the adsorbent, process and equipment interfaces.

1000+

Systems Installed

430+

Large-Scale PSA Plants

400

Engineering Professionals

500+

Invention Patents / Utility Model Patents

New PSA unit or existing-plant upgrade?

Share your feed composition, flow, pressure and hydrogen purity and recovery targets.

Discuss Your PSA Project
PROJECT CASE STUDIES

PSA case studies from real industrial operations

From coke oven gas purification to a large-scale PDH PSA retrofit, JALON adsorbents have helped both units meet their hydrogen purity and yield targets under different operating conditions.

COKE OVEN GAS PURIFICATION / 2022

High-purity hydrogen from coke oven gas

At Henan Liyuan Chemical, JALON supplied and loaded 128 tonnes of JLPH5 molecular sieve during the PSA II unit’s August 2022 turnaround. Processing 14,000 Nm³/h of coke oven gas, the unit achieved 6,700 Nm³/h of hydrogen at ≥99.99% purity and ≥80% yield. All agreed performance indicators were met.

≥99.99%

Hydrogen purity

≥80%

 Hydrogen yield

≤20 ppm

 CO + CO₂ in product hydrogen

PDH PSA RETROFIT / 2024

JALON JLFA Retrofit Meets PDH PSA Purity and Yield Targets

At Wanhua Chemical (Yantai), JALON upgraded a 60,000 Nm³/h PDH PSA unit with an equal-volume JLFA replacement. The unit achieved ≥99.99% hydrogen purity and ≥89% yield without tail-gas recycling.

60,000 Nm³/h

Feed processing capacity

≥99.99%

Hydrogen purity

≥89%

Hydrogen yield

100%

Process compliance

WHY JALON

A dependable partner from material qualification to global delivery

JALON combines specialized molecular-sieve development with quality-controlled production and responsive technical support for industrial gas separation applications.

28+

Years of molecular sieve technology and manufacturing experience.

116000t

Annual molecular sieve material production capacity.

86+

Regions and countries served across industrial markets.

200g

Sample retained from every batch for three-year traceability.

Certifications that support consistent quality

ISO-certified management systems help ensure responsible manufacturing, documented quality control and reliable supply.

Frequently Asked Questions

JALON supplies specialized molecular sieve adsorbents and works with Hanxing Energy to support PSA process technology, engineering design, equipment supply and EPC solutions. The scope of each new unit or upgrade is defined around feed composition, operating conditions and target hydrogen specifications.

5A is not the only adsorbent used in hydrogen PSA. A layered bed may also use 3A, 4A, 13X, activated alumina or activated carbon for dehydration, CO₂ management or hydrocarbon protection, depending on the feed. 5A is commonly selected for the CO and N₂ removal stage. JLPH5 takes this role further with a binderless 5A structure designed for enhanced CO, N₂ and CH₄ adsorption, rapid cycling and high mechanical strength.
Hydrogen-rich feed gas can contain CO, CO₂, N₂, CH₄, water vapor and residual hydrocarbons. PSA uses adsorbents with different affinities to retain these impurities while hydrogen passes through as product gas.
PSA is commonly used after steam methane reforming and with refinery, petrochemical, coke oven, methanol and ammonia off-gases. Suitability depends on gas composition, operating pressure and the required hydrogen purity and recovery.
Review the feed-gas analysis, bead size, bed layout, loading method, operating pressure and temperature, cycle timing, current hydrogen specification and any signs of bed attrition or contamination.
Changes in feed composition, moisture or heavy-hydrocarbon carryover, adsorbent attrition, bed settling and process-cycle changes can all affect performance.

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JALON JLOED MOLECULAR SIEVES USED FOR ELECTROLYTE DEHYDRATION

This letter is to inform you that we evaluated Molecular Sieve JLOED 3.0-5.0 MM product from Luoyang Jalon Micro-nano New Materials Co., Ltd to dry our organic solvents for production of electrolyte for Li ion battery. The resulting organic solvents that went through our process with the Molecular Sieve JLOED 3.0-5.0 MM product in our R/D and production facility located in Chico, CA, US passed our specifications showing extremely low content of moisture, below 10ppm. This Molecular Sieve product met our quality requirement, and it is highly recommended for use in the industry of Li ion battery for drying of organic solvents. We also appreciate the technical support from the company.

Nanotech Energy

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