CAGESPHERE® Molecular Sieves: These substances can be adsorbed.
Complete Table on Selectivity
Adsorption Spectrum by Molecule and Pore Size
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Elemental Gases
Inorganic Compounds
Alcohols & Oxygen Compounds
Hydrocarbons
Aromatics & Cyclic Hydrocarbons
Organic Sulfur & Nitrogen Compounds
Halogenated Compounds
() = Adsorption depends on process conditions
Elemental Gases
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Helium | He | 2,0 | ||||
Hydrogen | H₂ | 2,4 | ||||
Neon | Ne | 3,2 | ||||
Argon | Ar | 3,8 | ||||
Krypton | Kr | 3,9 | ||||
Xenon | Xe | 4,7 | ||||
Oxygen | O₂ | 2,9 | ||||
Nitrogen | N₂ | 3,0 | ||||
Chlorine | Cl₂ | 8,2 |
Inorganic Compounds
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water | H₂O | 2,6 | ||||
Carbon monoxide | CO | 3,2 | ||||
Carbon dioxide | CO₂ | 2,8 | () | |||
Ammonium | NH₃ | 3,8 | () | |||
Hydrogen sulfide | H₂S | 3,6 | () | |||
Sulfur dioxide | SO₂ | 4,3 | ||||
Sulfur hexafluoride | SF₆ | 6,7 |
Alcohols & Oxygen Compounds
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Methanol | CH₃OH | 3,6 – 4,4 | () | |||
Ethanol | C₂H₆O | 4,4 | () | |||
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) | C₄H₈O | 5,0 | () |
Hydrocarbons
Small & linear
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Methane | CH₄ | 3,8 – 4,0 | ||||
Acetylene | C₂H₂ | 3,0 | ||||
Ethylene | C₂H₄ | 3,9 – 4,3 | ||||
Ethan | C₂H₆ | 4,2 – 4,4 | ||||
Propylen | C₃H₆ | 4,0 – 5,0 | ||||
Propane | C₃H₈ | 4,3 – 4,9 |
Butanes & higher
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n-butane | C₄H₁₀ | 4,3 | () | |||
i-butane | C₄H₁₀ | 5,1 | () | |||
i-butene | C₄H₈ | 4,0 | () | |||
trans-2-butene | C₄H₈ | 5,1 | () | |||
1,3-Butadiene | C₄H₆ | 5,8 | () | |||
n-Paraffins (higher) | group | ≥ 4,9 | ||||
i-Paraffins (higher) | group | ≥ 5,6 |
Aromatics & Cyclic Hydrocarbons
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Benzene | C₆H₆ | 5,8 – 6,7 | ||||
Toluene | C₇H₈ | 5,8 – 6,7 | ||||
o-xylene | C₈H₁₀ | 6,6 | () | |||
m-xylene | C₈H₁₀ | 6,3 | () | |||
p-xylene | C₈H₁₀ | 5,9 | () | |||
Cyclohexane | C₆H₁₂ | 6,0 | () |
Organic Sulfur & Nitrogen Compounds.
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Methyl Mercaptan | CH₃SH | 3,8 | () | |||
Ethyl Mercaptan | C₂H₅SH | 3,8 | () | |||
Thiophene | C₄H₄S | 5,3 | () | |||
Triethylamine | C₆H₁₅N | 7,8 | () |
Halogenated Compounds.
Substance | Formula | Ø [Å] | 3A | 4A | 5A | 13X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tetrachloromethane | CCl₄ | 5,9 – 6,9 | ||||
Trichloromethane | CHCl₃ | 6,9 | () | |||
Hexachloroethane | C₂Cl₆ | 6,9 | ||||
Tetrafluoromethane | CF₄ | 5,3 | ||||
Hexafluoromethane | C₂F₆ | 5,3 |
() = Adsorption depends on process conditions
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FAQ - your questions, answered.
Not quite! Molecule size is only the first step. Think of it as "Can you fit through the door?" Small enough molecules (like H₂O and CO₂) can both enter the pores of a type 13X molecular sieve. But getting in isn't the same as being invited to stay.
That's where polarity comes in. Water molecules (H₂O) are more polar than CO₂ molecules and therefore more "sticky". So, when both are floating around together, water wins the best spots inside the pores and pushes CO₂ back out. Only once almost all the water is soaked up does CO₂ get a real chance to stick around.
Pore size decides who's allowed in — additional factors such as polarity decide who actually gets to stay.