Influence of uniformity of zeolite sheets prepared using a papermaking technique on VOC adsorptivity

Zeolite sheets with different uniformities were prepared using a papermaking technique with different dual-polymer retention systems. The sheet uniformity was studied by light-transmission image analysis to calculate a formation index (FI). The lower the value of FI, the better the uniformity of the zeolite sheet. In this report, the relationship between the sheet adsorptivity with respect to acetaldehyde, one of the typical volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the FI of the zeolite sheets was studied. The maximum adsorption capacity of the zeolite sheet depended only on the amount of zeolite in the sheet. However, the better the uniformity of zeolite sheet, the greater was the adsorptive efficiency. In particular, a uniform distribution of zeolite in the sheets led to a remarkable increase in the initial rate of acetaldehyde adsorption. Consequently, sheet uniformity is one of the most important factors determining the performance of zeolite sheets. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.