Separation of Oxygen and Nitrogen Using 5A Zeolite and Carbon Molecular Sieves

The performance of 5A zeolite and a carbon sieve produced from coal for the separation of O2 and N2 from air has been studied. In static adsorption at 25°C, the zeolite took up more N2 than O2. Conversely, for short adsorption times, the carbon sieve took up more O2 than N2. This behavior was reflected when air was passed through adsorbent beds. For the zeolite, enriched O2 was recovered in the outlet; for carbon, enriched N2 was recovered. Possibilities for improving the performance of the carbon sieve are discussed.