At NINGBO INNO PHARMCHEM CO., LTD., we understand the critical role of precise gas drying in various industrial applications. Molecular sieves stand out as highly effective desiccants, and knowing the specific properties of each type is key to optimizing performance. This guide focuses on the widely used types: 3A, 4A, 5A, and 13X molecular sieves.

Molecular sieves are crystalline aluminosilicates with a highly uniform porous structure. This structure allows them to selectively adsorb molecules based on size and polarity. Their primary application in gas drying is to remove water molecules from gas streams, preventing issues like corrosion and equipment malfunction.

3A Molecular Sieves: These sieves have a pore opening of approximately 3 angstroms. Their key advantage is their high selectivity for water molecules while excluding larger molecules like hydrocarbons, nitrogen, and oxygen. This makes 3A molecular sieves ideal for drying small gas molecules such as saturated hydrocarbons, alcohols, and refrigerants, where minimizing co-adsorption is crucial. In natural gas processing, they are excellent for ensuring extremely low water dew points.

4A Molecular Sieves: With a pore opening of approximately 4 angstroms, 4A molecular sieves are versatile. They effectively adsorb water, methanol, ethanol, and carbon dioxide. They are commonly used for general-purpose drying of unsaturated hydrocarbons, natural gas, and even for air drying in industrial settings. Their balanced adsorption capabilities make them a staple in many drying applications.

5A Molecular Sieves: Featuring a pore opening of approximately 5 angstroms, 5A molecular sieves can adsorb a wider range of molecules, including normal paraffins, n-butane, and H2S, in addition to water and unsaturated hydrocarbons. This makes them suitable for separating normal paraffins from branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons, and for removing H2S and CO2 from natural gas, performing a 'sweetening' function.

13X Molecular Sieves: These have the largest pore opening of the A-type zeolites, around 10 angstroms. This allows them to adsorb larger molecules, including CO2, sulfur compounds, and aromatics like benzene, along with water. 13X sieves are often used in air separation units for the removal of CO2 and moisture, and they can also be employed in natural gas treatment for a broader range of impurity removal, including oxygenates.

At NINGBO INNO PHARMCHEM CO., LTD., we provide high-quality molecular sieves in various forms (beads, pellets) to suit different application requirements. Our expertise ensures that you can buy the right molecular sieve to achieve optimal gas drying and purification, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of your industrial processes.