Selection and Application for Molecular Sieve 13X
Time:2025-10-29
Molecular sieve 13X, also known as NaX molecular sieve, is an artificially synthesized crystal with a uniform microporous structure and a pore size of approximately 10 angstroms (Å). It is a key material in the field of industrial adsorption and separation. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the classification, technical characteristics, and wide applications of 13X molecular sieves in different industries, helping you choose the most suitable solution for your process.
1、What is molecular sieve 13X?
Molecular sieve 13X belongs to the X-type zeolite molecular sieve, and its crystal structure consists of silicon oxygen tetrahedra and aluminum oxygen tetrahedra. The sodium ions (Na ⁺) in the skeleton can be exchanged with other cations, forming variants with different properties. The name "13X" comes from its initial cation being sodium and a pore size of 10 angstroms (International X-ray Classification).
2、Main classification and specifications of molecular sieve 13X
In order to meet the needs of different application scenarios, industrial 13X molecular sieves are usually subdivided based on their morphology, function, and cation type. This is crucial for your procurement decision.
1). Classified by shape:
*Raw powder: In powder form, mainly used as a catalyst carrier, additive, or raw material for further processing and shaping.
*Pellet or cylinder: Formed by extrusion, with a diameter typically ranging from 1.6mm to 3.2mm. It has low pressure drop and high mechanical strength, making it suitable for large fixed bed adsorption towers.
*Spherical or bead: Formed by sugar coating, with diameters typically ranging from 1.6-2.5mm and 3.0-5.0mm. Spherical particles have good flowability during loading, uniform bed distribution, and better wear resistance, which can effectively reduce the generation of dust when gas flows through.
2). Classification by function and cation exchange:
*Molecular sieve 13X APG: This is the most basic sodium based 13X model. It has a strong affinity for polar molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
*Main applications: deep drying air, natural gas, cracking gas; Simultaneously remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.
*Molecular sieve 13X: Commonly used in the design of liquefied natural gas (LNG) processes. By optimizing the production process, it has a high co adsorption capacity for water and carbon dioxide, which can effectively prevent pipeline freezing and blockage in low-temperature environments. It is a key adsorbent in the LNG pretreatment process.
*Molecular sieve 13X HP: A molecular sieve specifically developed for pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen production processes. Through special molding and activation processes, it has extremely high kinetic selectivity and can quickly adsorb nitrogen gas, allowing oxygen to pass through and achieve oxygen enrichment. Its mechanical strength and wear resistance have also been specially optimized to withstand frequent pressure changes in the PSA process.
*Lithium type molecular sieve: By exchanging some sodium ions (Na ⁺) with lithium ions (Li ⁺), its effective pore size can be reduced to about 8-9 Å. This variant is called "lithium exchange low silicon X-type molecular sieve" and has a higher nitrogen adsorption capacity.
*Main application: It is mainly used for VPSA oxygen production equipment with extremely high volume and efficiency requirements, such as aircraft cabin oxygen supply system (OBOGS) and medical oxygen production.
3、Core application areas of molecular sieve 13X
With its unique pore size and chemical properties, 13X molecular sieve plays an irreplaceable role in the following fields.
1). Oil and gas industry
*Natural gas purification: Before liquefaction or pipeline transportation, it is necessary to deeply remove water, CO₂, and H2S from the raw gas to prevent corrosion and freezing. Molecular sieve 13X is the preferred choice for this "purification" step.
*Refinery gas separation: Used to separate n-alkanes and isoparaffins from refinery gas to increase gasoline octane rating.
2). In the field of air separation and oxygen production
*Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen production: Molecular sieve 13X HP and lithium molecular sieve are the core of PSA oxygen production technology, widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, glass manufacturing, sewage treatment, healthcare and other fields.
*Air pretreatment: Before the cryogenic air separation unit, 13X molecular sieve is used to deeply dry and remove CO₂ from the compressed air to protect downstream equipment.
3). Separation of Environment and Chemical Industry
*Carbon dioxide capture: Adsorption and separation of CO₂ from flue gas, biogas, or fermentation gas to assist in carbon reduction and resource utilization.
*Chemical process drying: used for deep drying of chemical raw materials such as olefins and refrigerants.
*Environmentally friendly adsorption: It can adsorb and remove harmful gases such as SO₂ and NOx from exhaust gas.
4、How to choose the right molecular sieve 13X for your application?
Choosing the correct molecular sieve 13X is the key to ensuring process efficiency and economic benefits. We suggest considering the following dimensions:
1). Target molecule: What are the main molecules that need to be adsorbed or separated? (Water, CO₂, N₂, H₂S, etc.)
2). Process type: Is pressure swing adsorption (PSA), temperature swing adsorption (TSA), or simply static drying used?
3). Operating conditions: What are the temperature, pressure, gas flow rate, and impurity concentration?
4). Equipment requirements: Is the adsorption tower design more suitable for strip or spherical packing? What are the requirements for dust and pressure drop?
Molecular sieve 13X, as an efficient and reliable adsorption and separation material, has been validated for its value through numerous industrial applications worldwide. Correctly understanding and selecting its subdivision types is the key to optimizing the process flow and reducing costs.
As a professional molecular sieve supplier, we can not only provide a full range of products from molecular sieve 13X, molecular sieve 13X-APG, and 13X, APG III to high-performance oxygen producing molecular sieve 13X HP, but also provide professional technical selection support and customized solutions according to your specific working conditions. Welcome to contact us anytime for free technical consultation and samples.
Molecular sieve 13X, also known as NaX molecular sieve, is an artificially synthesized crystal with a uniform microporous structure and a pore size of approximately 10 angstroms (Å). It is a key material in the field of industrial adsorption and separation. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the classification, technical characteristics, and wide applications of 13X molecular sieves in different industries, helping you choose the most suitable solution for your process.
1、What is molecular sieve 13X?
Molecular sieve 13X belongs to the X-type zeolite molecular sieve, and its crystal structure consists of silicon oxygen tetrahedra and aluminum oxygen tetrahedra. The sodium ions (Na ⁺) in the skeleton can be exchanged with other cations, forming variants with different properties. The name "13X" comes from its initial cation being sodium and a pore size of 10 angstroms (International X-ray Classification).
2、Main classification and specifications of molecular sieve 13X
In order to meet the needs of different application scenarios, industrial 13X molecular sieves are usually subdivided based on their morphology, function, and cation type. This is crucial for your procurement decision.
1). Classified by shape:
*Raw powder: In powder form, mainly used as a catalyst carrier, additive, or raw material for further processing and shaping.
*Pellet or cylinder: Formed by extrusion, with a diameter typically ranging from 1.6mm to 3.2mm. It has low pressure drop and high mechanical strength, making it suitable for large fixed bed adsorption towers.
*Spherical or bead: Formed by sugar coating, with diameters typically ranging from 1.6-2.5mm and 3.0-5.0mm. Spherical particles have good flowability during loading, uniform bed distribution, and better wear resistance, which can effectively reduce the generation of dust when gas flows through.
2). Classification by function and cation exchange:
*Molecular sieve 13X APG: This is the most basic sodium based 13X model. It has a strong affinity for polar molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
*Main applications: deep drying air, natural gas, cracking gas; Simultaneously remove carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.
*Molecular sieve 13X: Commonly used in the design of liquefied natural gas (LNG) processes. By optimizing the production process, it has a high co adsorption capacity for water and carbon dioxide, which can effectively prevent pipeline freezing and blockage in low-temperature environments. It is a key adsorbent in the LNG pretreatment process.
*Molecular sieve 13X HP: A molecular sieve specifically developed for pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen production processes. Through special molding and activation processes, it has extremely high kinetic selectivity and can quickly adsorb nitrogen gas, allowing oxygen to pass through and achieve oxygen enrichment. Its mechanical strength and wear resistance have also been specially optimized to withstand frequent pressure changes in the PSA process.
*Lithium type molecular sieve: By exchanging some sodium ions (Na ⁺) with lithium ions (Li ⁺), its effective pore size can be reduced to about 8-9 Å. This variant is called "lithium exchange low silicon X-type molecular sieve" and has a higher nitrogen adsorption capacity.
*Main application: It is mainly used for VPSA oxygen production equipment with extremely high volume and efficiency requirements, such as aircraft cabin oxygen supply system (OBOGS) and medical oxygen production.
3、Core application areas of molecular sieve 13X
With its unique pore size and chemical properties, 13X molecular sieve plays an irreplaceable role in the following fields.
1). Oil and gas industry
*Natural gas purification: Before liquefaction or pipeline transportation, it is necessary to deeply remove water, CO₂, and H2S from the raw gas to prevent corrosion and freezing. Molecular sieve 13X is the preferred choice for this "purification" step.
*Refinery gas separation: Used to separate n-alkanes and isoparaffins from refinery gas to increase gasoline octane rating.
2). In the field of air separation and oxygen production
*Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen production: Molecular sieve 13X HP and lithium molecular sieve are the core of PSA oxygen production technology, widely used in metallurgy, chemical industry, glass manufacturing, sewage treatment, healthcare and other fields.
*Air pretreatment: Before the cryogenic air separation unit, 13X molecular sieve is used to deeply dry and remove CO₂ from the compressed air to protect downstream equipment.
3). Separation of Environment and Chemical Industry
*Carbon dioxide capture: Adsorption and separation of CO₂ from flue gas, biogas, or fermentation gas to assist in carbon reduction and resource utilization.
*Chemical process drying: used for deep drying of chemical raw materials such as olefins and refrigerants.
*Environmentally friendly adsorption: It can adsorb and remove harmful gases such as SO₂ and NOx from exhaust gas.
4、How to choose the right molecular sieve 13X for your application?
Choosing the correct molecular sieve 13X is the key to ensuring process efficiency and economic benefits. We suggest considering the following dimensions:
1). Target molecule: What are the main molecules that need to be adsorbed or separated? (Water, CO₂, N₂, H₂S, etc.)
2). Process type: Is pressure swing adsorption (PSA), temperature swing adsorption (TSA), or simply static drying used?
3). Operating conditions: What are the temperature, pressure, gas flow rate, and impurity concentration?
4). Equipment requirements: Is the adsorption tower design more suitable for strip or spherical packing? What are the requirements for dust and pressure drop?
Molecular sieve 13X, as an efficient and reliable adsorption and separation material, has been validated for its value through numerous industrial applications worldwide. Correctly understanding and selecting its subdivision types is the key to optimizing the process flow and reducing costs.
As a professional molecular sieve supplier, we can not only provide a full range of products from molecular sieve 13X, molecular sieve 13X-APG, and 13X, APG III to high-performance oxygen producing molecular sieve 13X HP, but also provide professional technical selection support and customized solutions according to your specific working conditions. Welcome to contact us anytime for free technical consultation and samples.
