BASF 4A Molecular Sieve
BASF 4A Molecular Sieve is a synthetic crystalline aluminosilicate with a regular micropore structure.
Zeolite Structure A type (LTA)
Pore Size 4 Å (0.4 nm)
Chemical Formula Na2O . Al2O3 . 2 SiO2 . n H2O
Product Applications
BASF 4A Molecular Sieve is a widely used adsorbent for many different applications. BASF 4A exhibits high water adsorption capacity at low partial pressures and at temperatures up to 100 °C.
BASF 4A Molecular Sieve is commonly used for drying of organic liquids (solvents, oils, gasoline and other saturated hydrocarbons), air, liquid gases (propane, butane), as well as noble and other gases (H2, N2, He, Ar, etc.)
Regeneration
Regeneration of BASF 4A Molecular Sieve may be carried out by increasing the temperature and/or reducing the pressure or using a suitable purge gas, respectively.
Packaging
- 216 L (135 kg) air tight steel drums
- Polypropylene inliner equipped big bags of different sizes (650 – 800kg net)
Applications:
Compressed air adsorption drying
Today adsorption dryers are part of every modern compressed air and energy supply.
In addition to the correct regeneration process, the adsorbent is the actual basic process component of each adsorption dryer and is responsible not only for the physical process of adsorption but also for the efficiency of the system.
Standard systems
Cold regenerated (heatless)
Cold-regenerated dryers (so-called heatless driers) function without heat but with a lot of compressed air.
These pressure swing adsorption dryers require a partial flow of previously-dried air for regeneration. The changeover takes place after only a few minutes with low water adsorption of less than 1 % by weight of the drying agent. Due to the high consumption of 12 to 25 % dried compressed air depending on the operating pressure, relatively high energy costs result during operation.
Pressure dew point: -25 to -40 °C, -70 °C 1
Adsorbent: Activated Alumina F 200, Molecular Sieve 4A
External heat regenerated (standard)
Standard adsorption dryers (externally heat-regenerated) are desorbed with externally heated fan air like the lowenergy variants. These are used if the demands on the efficiency are not too high. In contrast to the modern purgeless systems, a partial flow of compressed air (purge air) is normally required for cooling. The standard of these systems usually includes drying agents which require a significantly higher desorption temperature (170° to 200 °C.) and a larger quantity of dry regeneration air.
Pressure dew point: -25 to -40 °C
Adsorbent: Activated Alumina F 200
Special systems
In the field of compressed-air adsorption dryers, there are also special applications which require adaptation of the plant or a special adsorbent.
Molecular sieves are used when particularly deep pressure dew points (up to -100 °C) are required, where the compressed air to be dried has a low relative humidity or is already pre-dried. Likewise, molecular sieves are suitable for the selective separation of gas mixtures owing to their uniform pore structure. Molecular sieves can be regenerated but require high temperatures of above 200 °C in order to reach the residual moisture required for very low dew points.
