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General Applications of 3A Molecular Sieve

Table of Contents

Petrochemical and Natural Gas Processing

3A Molecular Sieve
3A molecular sieve, with its selective adsorption of water molecules (diameter <3Å), is widely used across various industries.

Equipment: Natural gas dehydration units, refinery gas drying towers, ethylene/propylene drying systems

Functions:

  • Deep dehydration, reducing moisture content to below 1 ppm (dew point < -70°C) to prevent pipeline corrosion and freezing

  • Selectively adsorbs water without adsorbing unsaturated hydrocarbons like ethylene (0.42-0.45nm) and propylene, ensuring feedstock purity

Refrigeration Systems

Equipment: Refrigerant dryer filters, refrigeration oil dehydration units

Functions:

  • Removes moisture from refrigerants (e.g., R22) to prevent acid formation through reaction with freon
  • Prevents ice blockages in capillaries and expansion valves, extending compressor lifespan

Insulated Glass Manufacturing

Equipment: Desiccant filling systems for spacer bars in insulated glass

Functions:

  • Adsorbs cavity moisture to prevent condensation and fogging, enhancing insulation performance
  • Unlike calcium chloride desiccants, it does not adsorb nitrogen/oxygen, avoiding glass deformation

Pharmaceutical and Electronics Industry

Equipment: High-purity solvent dehydration units (ethanol, isopropanol), electronic gas purification systems
Functions:

  • Lowers solvent moisture content to ppm levels, meeting synthesis and semiconductor manufacturing standards
  • High efficiency in isopropanol dehydration, excellent regenerability for repeated use
3A sieve solvent recovery

Air Separation and Industrial Gas Purification

Equipment: Feed gas pretreatment towers for air separation, PSA oxygen/hydrogen production systems
Functions:

  • Works alongside 13X molecular sieve—first adsorbing water, then CO₂ removal with 13X—to protect cryogenic distillation towers from freezing

Solvent Recovery and Refining

Equipment: Ethyl acetate dehydration columns, isopropanol recovery systems
Functions:

Replaces traditional azeotropic distillation by directly adsorbing water from azeotropes, reducing energy consumption

Other Specialized Applications

  • Kerosene/Aviation Fuel Dehydration: Prevents freezing at low temperatures
  • Ammonia Cracking Gas Drying: Enhances ammonia synthesis efficiency

Technical Advantages Summary

  • High Selectivity: Adsorbs only small polar molecules like H₂O and NH₃, avoiding hydrocarbon interference
  • Strong Regenerability: Simple regeneration via heating at 200-350°C, ensuring long service life
  • High Mechanical Strength: Low attrition rate (≤0.3%), suitable for high-pressure industrial environments

3A molecular sieve’s precise pore control and chemical stability underpin its broad industrial use. With growing demand in green chemistry and energy-efficient construction, its application scope continues to expand.

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