What are the Differences in Application Between Activated Alumina and Zeolite Molecular Sieve?

Activated alumina and molecular sieves are both solid materials with internal empty pore structures. They have the characteristics of large specific surface area and adjustable pore size. Both have good adsorption capacity and are commonly used adsorbents in industrial production. Today we mainly talk about the differences between activated alumina and molecular sieves in application.

Activated alumina can actually be called an industrial desiccant. More than 80% of the air pressure drying equipment commonly used in industry uses activated alumina, which can normally reach -40°C. Molecular sieves are only used when the drying depth is relatively high, and activated alumina desiccants can be used. The main gases are: acetylene, cracked gas, coke oven gas, hydrogen, oxygen, air, ethane, hydrogen chloride, propane, ammonia, ethylene, hydrogen sulfide, propylene, argon, methane, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, natural gas, and helium , nitrogen, chlorine, etc.

Molecular sieves have strong hydrophilicity, because in industrial production, sometimes the water content of the gas is required to be controlled at a very low level. At this time, the drying depth of activated alumina cannot meet the requirements. Molecular sieves can be used when the water content is very low. For adsorption, the molecular sieve drying depth can reach -70°C. 

Another difference is the difference in adsorption conditions between the two. When the gas moisture content is high, the water absorption rate of activated alumina is much higher than that of molecular sieves. Under the same conditions, molecular sieves do not have as obvious results as activated alumina. This is caused by the molecular structure, but When the moisture content is very low, it needs to be reduced by another order of magnitude. At this time, the water absorption rate of molecular sieves is stronger than that of activated alumina.

The above is the difference in application between these two products. In fact, sometimes we can use activated alumina and molecular sieve together, so that we can give full play to their respective strengths and use them rationally, which not only saves costs but also achieves twice the result with half the effort. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages in industry, so we should have a basic understanding of the differences between activated alumina and molecular sieves, so that we can make a more reasonable choice that will help bring into play their respective characteristics.

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