Diffusion of Isobutane in ZSM-5 Zeolite: A Comparison of Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering and Supported Membrane Results

Isobutane diffusivities in ZSM-5 zeolite have been measured by quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) and supported membrane techniques. This is the first diffusivity measurement of a branched alkane inside a zeolite of MFI type using a microscopic method. The self-diffusion coefficient derived from QENS is 3 × 10 -12 m 2 /s at 500 K. The diffusivity obtained with the supported membrane is 1 order of magnitude larger. In view of the large differences usually reported in the literature between microscopic and macroscopic techniques, the comparison between QENS and supported membrane data is quite satisfactory. The activation energy for diffusion determined from QENS is 17 kJ/mol. Because of the variation of loading due to temperature changes, an apparent activation energy is obtained with the supported membrane; it is 34 kJ/mol. In this zeolite, the diffusion of branched hydrocarbons is much slower than that of linear alkanes; the diffusion coefficient of isobutane is found to be 3 orders of magnitude lower than that of n -butane by QENS.