Propane/propylene separation by selective olefin adsorption on Cu/ SBA-15 Mesoporous silica

E. I. BASALDELLA; J.C. TARA; G. AGUILAR ARMENTA; M. E. PATIÑO-IGLESIAS; E. RODRÍGUEZ CASTELLÓN

JOURNAL OF SOL-GEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Springer

Año: 2006 vol. 37 p. 141 - 146

0928-0707

ABSTRACT             Samples of mesoporous silica SBA-15 were prepared under hydrothermal conditions and Cu cations were incorporated to the framework by two different impregnation techniques. The corresponding adsorption/desorption equilibrium isotherms of propylene, propane, and N2 were measured to evaluate their usefulness in the propane/propylene separation. Adsorption uptake of propylene increased and that of propane decreased in Cu containing samples as compared to the uptakes observed in SBA-15 sample. It was proved that the presence of Cu atoms in the adsorbent lattice led to a greater selectivity towards propylene. Furthermore, the highest level of Cu(I) were obtained in the samples prepared by the equilibrium impregnation, which in turns improved the olefin/paraffin uptakes ratio. Under some working conditions, the adsorbed amount of propylene in selected samples is totally reversible while propane uptake was negligible.