Characterisation of silicalite and post synthesis modified silicalite using adsorption

Abstract

Bibliography: leaves 89-96.The study of adsorption on microporous materials such as zeolites is of tremendous scientific and industrial interest. The effective development and design of both equipment and processes is reliant on the availability of accurate information on the processes of adsorption in these materials. Zeolites, of the type studied in this thesis, are becoming increasingly important in a wide range of fields such as ion-exchange, purification, separations particularly of close boiling compounds and catalytic processes. The work presented had two primary objectives. The first was the design and construction of a reliable apparatus for the measurement of adsorption isotherms. This adsorption apparatus was based upon the gravimetric technique due to the reliability, high sensitivity and the widespread use of this type of technique. The system constructed was a flow system as opposed to the more commonly used vacuum system. The choice of a flow gravimetric system introduces a number of advantages: * The effect of the heat of adsorption is reduced * The system is better able to replicate industrial conditions * The gravimetric technique is simple to use