Molecular sieves are crystalline aluminosilicates known as zeolites. They have a three-dimensional interconnecting network of alumina tetrahedra and silica. Molecular sieves are engineered with pores of precise and uniform size and structure. They are made of synthetic and natural materials that selectively absorb based on their sizes. In this blog, we discuss the different materials used for molecular sieves.
What are Molecular Sieves?
Molecular sieves are synthetic zeolite materials engineered to have pores that are accurate and uniform. The material zeolite is naturally occurring and highly porous. The molecular sieves manufacturers in India produce these sieves to have specific structures and sizes for particular components to pass.
Raw Materials for Molecular Sieves
- Aluminosilicates: This is a primary raw material for molecular sieves comprised of silicon, aluminium and oxygen atoms in a crystalline framework.
- Silica: This is another common ingredient in molecular sieves, especially silica-based zeolites.
- Aluminium Hydroxide: This is used as a source of aluminium in the framework for the alumina component in molecular sieves.
- Sodium Silicate: This material provides the needed silica content for the structure.
- Sodium Hydroxide:This is used as a mineralizing agent to form a crystalline structure during the synthesis.
- Activated Alumina: It is used as a protective layer in molecular sieve beds. It is dehydration-grade material with high-density to remove water.
- Calcium: These are the calcium-exchanged forms of zeolites used throughout the process industry. These types of molecules are used in absorbent layers in hydrogen pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants.
- Cations: Cations like calcium, sodium and potassium balance that charge in the zeolite structure.
Types of Molecular Sieves
There are four most common types of molecular sieves: 3A, 4A, 5A and 13X. Each of these variants of molecular sieves with different pore sizes depending on the chemical formula of the selected zeolite.
- Molecular Sieve 3A: It is used for dryign polar liquids like methanol and ethanol.
- Molecular Sieve 4A: It is used for static drying of liquids and gases in food packaging, pharmaceutical product packaging and electronics.
- Molecular Seive 5A: It is used to refine gas and oil products.
- Molecular Sieve 13x: It is used for the separation of oxygen and nitrogen from the air.
Buy Premium Quality Molecular Sieves
If you are looking to buy top-notch quality molecular sieves, Western Carbon & Chemicals can help you. As a leading molecular sieves manufacturer in India, we offer a wide variety of molecular sieves, including WCC 3A and WCC 4A. WCC 5A and WCC 13X. For technical specifications, call us today.
