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[carlosadriancardenas]

Hello.

 

I am trying to investigate about the impact of methanol on molecular sieves and I have been reading up on it, but I still can't get a straight answer to this concern.

I have read that methanol is somehow a contaminant for molecular sieves, and because of this, such substance has to be kept away from the sieves. On the other hand, I have also read that molecular sieves are used to remove methanol from gas streams. Also, that, because of the difference in electronegativity among water and methanol, water molecules are more likely to take up the sieves pores.

I work at a LPG recovery plant and we use Siliporite NK10 4A sieves to dehydrate a gas stream prior to entering the cryogenic unit. The regeneration process is made with dry sweet gas at 275°C and 35 barg.

The question would be. Is it actually serious if methanol reaches the molecular sieves? Is it removed during the regeneration process? Why is it considered a contaminant?

 

Hope anyone can clarify this curiosity. Regards. Carlos.