Molecular sieves for Energy and Chemicals
Molecular sieves, a key solution for advanced Energy and Chemicals applications
Petrochemicals
In cracked gas, ethylene, propylene, and other olefin production units, Siliporite® adsorbents are used to remove water, ammonia, mercury, methanol, and other trace impurities before cryogenic separation or other downstream processes.
This purification step preserves product purity, prevents hydrate formation, and protects compressors and separation equipment.
Arkema provides a complete range of high-performance adsorbents suitable for all feedstocks and process conditions, contributing to safe, stable, and optimized operations.
The Siliporite® 3A OPX product range combines high adsorption capacity, excellent mechanical strength, and low co-adsorption and coking tendencies, ensuring exceptional lifetime and consistent performance even under demanding operating conditions.
With decades of expertise in adsorption and close partnerships with major licensors and petrochemical producers, Arkema supports customers worldwide with proven solutions for efficient gas drying and purification in the olefins industry.
Refining
In the refining sector, Siliporite® molecular sieves play a vital role across multiple stages of hydrocarbon processing. They help ensure product specifications are met, prevent corrosion, and protect downstream catalysts by efficiently removing critical impurities.
Arkema offers a comprehensive range of high-performance adsorbents, combining the properties of 3A, 4A, 5A, 13X zeolites, as well as promoted and activated alumina, to meet the specific needs of each refining application. These materials are used to eliminate traces of water, chlorides, oxygenates, and sulfur compounds in key refining units such as FCC, alkylation, isomerization, and reforming. To meet the most demanding process conditions, Arkema has developed a dedicated range of chloride-removal adsorbents that reliably protect sensitive catalysts, avoids corrosion and enhance overall unit performance and lifetime.
Molecular sieves are also widely employed in hydrogen generation units, particularly in steam methane reforming (SMR) and PSA H2 processes where Arkema’s PHYG product range is widely used. By using the right adsorbent grade, refiners can improve their PSA unit efficiency, increase hydrogen purity, and protect expensive catalyst beds from degradation.
Ethanol dehydration
In bioethanol and fuel ethanol production, achieving a purity above 99.5% requires the complete removal of water. Since traditional distillation cannot overcome the water–ethanol azeotrope, molecular sieve adsorption is the industry standard for ethanol dehydration units.
Siliporite® EPX3B and EHP 3A molecular sieves from Arkema are recognized as a global benchmark in ethanol drying, particularly in pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems. These sieves selectively adsorb water molecules while allowing ethanol to pass through, enabling continuous and energy-efficient production of anhydrous ethanol.
Arkema’s products ensures exceptional mechanical strength and minimal dust formation, a key advantage for maintaining longer cycle life, stable pressure drop, and consistent product performance in dehydration units. This technology is essential not only for fuel-grade ethanol, but also for high-purity industrial and pharmaceutical applications, where process reliability and product purity are critical.
Natural gas processing
In natural gas and LNG processing, Siliporite® molecular sieves are essential to achieve ultra-low water and impurity levels required for safe and efficient operation. They remove traces of water, CO₂, H₂S, and other contaminants that can cause hydrate formation, corrosion in downstream units.
Siliporite® NK30, NK30COS, and NK30COS PLUS are designed for high-capacity dehydration with minimal co-adsorption of H₂S/CO₂ and reduced COS formation, ensuring on-spec gas and stable cryogenic performance. For more demanding environments, Siliporite® SRA and RA offer superior thermal, chemical, and acid resistance, maintaining mechanical strength and adsorption efficiency even under aggressive regeneration or amine carry-over conditions.
Combined, these products deliver long service life, consistent low pressure drop, and reliable operation under the most severe process conditions found in natural gas and LNG facilities.
More on Siliporite® molecular sieves for natural gas processing
Xylene separation
Para-xylene (p-xylene), a precursor for PTA (purified terephthalic acid) and then PET (polyethylene terephthalate), can be isolated from a mixed xylene stream through Simulated Moving Bed (SMB), a highly selective process that benefits from the unique properties of molecular sieves.
Compared to alternative technologies such as crystallization, the xylenes separation based on SMB and molecular sieves delivers a higher purity, lower energy consumption and higher output in a continuous process. This approach offers a more sustainable and cost-effective solution at large scale for aromatics purification in petrochemical plants.
Why choose Arkema's Molecular sieves?
Our services - before, during, after
With decades of experience in adsorption technologies, Arkema delivers high-performance zeolite molecular sieves under the Siliporite® brand, optimized for every segment of the Energy & Chemicals market. Whether your process requires deep drying or contaminant removal, Arkema provides a tailored solution supported by global technical expertise and dedicated R&D capabilities.
Through close collaboration with operators, engineering firms, and technology licensors, Arkema’s teams provide comprehensive assistance from project design to plant operation, including product selection, unit optimization, performance assessment, and troubleshooting.
Our pilot-scale TSA units and on-site analytical services enable breakthrough studies to ensure reliable and predictable industrial performance.
Arkema’s scientists continuously develop new product generations to ensure the best adsorption capacity and kinetics while keeping high mechanical strength and low dusting, ensuring that Siliporite® molecular sieves remain at the forefront of efficiency, safety, and sustainability. From natural gas dehydration and ethanol drying to petrochemical purification and refinery gas treatment, Siliporite® products meet the highest industrial standards while supporting the global transition toward cleaner and more efficient operations.
Ready to optimize your process? Contact Arkema’s molecular sieve experts to find the right adsorbent for your application.
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