What is molecular sieve 3A

Molecular sieve 3A is a potassium-sodium aluminosilicate with a pore size of 3Å (0.3nm) and sometimes it is also called zeolite 3A molecular sieve. The chemical formula of molecular sieve 3A is K12[(AIO2)12(SIO2)]·XH2O with a silicon to aluminum ratio: SiO2/Al2O3≈2. Molecular sieve 3A CAS Number: 308080-99-1.

Molecular sieve is 3A is mainly used to adsorb water and does not adsorb any molecules with a diameter greater than 3A. According to molecular sieve 3A industrial application characteristics produce by JALON, it has fast adsorption speed, short regeneration times, crushing strength that makes the utilization efficiency of zeolite and the service life of molecular sieve are prolonged. Molecular sieve 3A is a desiccant necessary for the deep drying, refining and polymerization of gas and liquid phases in the petroleum and chemical industries.

Molecular sieves start with powder. The powder is then combined with the clay binder and the mixture will be rolled into small beads. The beads are partially dried at 600 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes them ceramic.

To make molecular sieve 3A powder, the molecular sieve 3A manufacturer uses a molecular sieve 4A and performs ion exchange. In this way, about half of the sodium ions in the structure can be exchanged with potassium ions, thus changing the effective diameter of the pore and forming 3A molecular sieve. Different grades of 3A molecular sieves refer to the percentage of ions exchanged.

Molecular sieve 3A performance and uses

Molecular sieve 3A are widely used for industrial dehydration of unsaturated hydrocarbon materials such as cracked gas, propylene, butadiene, acetylene, etc., and also for drying water, gas, polar liquids (such as ethanol) and natural gas. Type 3A has a small pore size, which can be eliminated during the water adsorption process, and all other molecules are thus prevented from “co-adsorption” of hydrocarbons.

Molecular sieve 3A Regenerated

Molecular sieve 3A can be regenerated and reused by heating and purging or evacuating at the same time.

Removal of water: drying gas such as nitrogen, air, hydrogen, saturated hydrocarbon, etc. can be heated to 150-320°C and pass into the molecular sieve bed under 0.3-0.5kg/m2 pressure for 3-4 hours, then Pass dry cold gas into the adsorber for about 2-3 hours, isolate the air and cool to room temperature.