How is 3A and 5A made from 4A Molecular Sieve? Molecular sieve starts out as powder. The powder is then combined with a binding material. This allows the powder to be rolled into beads. These beads are partially dried at 600-700 degrees F, which turns them into a ceramic. In addition, all molecular sieve starts […]

Adsorbent Product Highlight: 13X Molecular Sieve 13X molecular sieve is of the type X crystal, as opposed to the type A crystal of the 3A, 4A, and 5A molecular sieves. The 13X crystal can be seen in the picture above. However, the 13X molecular sieve is similar to the 4A in that it has sodium […]

What is Molecular Sieve? Molecular sieves are synthetic zeolite materials engineered with pores of precise and uniform structure and size. This allows them to preferentially adsorb gases and liquids based on molecular size and polarity. Zeolites are naturally existing, highly porous crystalline solids, belonging to the class of chemicals known as aluminosilicates. There are four […]

Compressed Natural Gas Drying Using compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicle fuel is a growing phenomenon in the US. The high cost of gasoline is not the only driving force for CNG growth. New natural gas sources including the massive amounts of natural gas reserves found in the various shale formations all over the US […]

Is Activated Alumina Harmful? Activated alumina, like most commercial desiccant material, is not harmful to people or the environment. Activated alumina is a porous solid made of aluminum oxide, or Al2O3. Though non-toxic, aluminum oxide is mildly irritating to skin and eyes with too much exposure. Please, do not eat. Fun Fact: The crystalline form […]

What is Silica Gel? Silica gel is a solid form of silicon dioxide, or SiO2, and it is actually more granular and hard than it is a gel. Silica gel is specifically synthesized to be highly porous, which is what gives it its adsorbing capabilities. Additionally, SiO2 is a polar compound, which allows it to […]

Is silica gel polar? What significance does this hold for its adsorption capabilities? Silica gel is a polar adsorbent. This allows it to preferentially adsorb other polar materials. When it comes to polarity, materials interact more with like materials. This principle is particularly important to many laboratories, which use silica gel as the stationary phase […]

What is Activated Alumina? Activated alumina is a porous, solid form of aluminum oxide, otherwise known as Al2O3 or alumina. This is the same mineral that makes up the precious gems ruby and sapphire, with impurities being the source of the stones’ bright colors. After activated alumina has been evacuated of existing moisture by heating […]