Physisorption of hydrogen in A, X and ZSM-5 types of zeolites at moderately high pressures

The hydrogen adsorption properties and uptake capacities of the A, X and ZSM-5 types of zeolites were investigated at temperatures of 77, 195 and 293 K and pressures up to 7 MPa, using a conventional volumetric adsorption apparatus. All hydrogen adsorption isotherms were basically type 1, but the maximum in isotherm, a unique feature of supercritical adsorption, was observed at high pressures of 2-5 MPa at 77 K. The isosteric heats of adsorption were determined from the isotherms and the factors that influence their variations were discussed. Different types of zeolites exhibited remarkably different hydrogen uptake, based on both the framework structure and the nature of the cations present. The highest gravimetric storage capacity of 2.55wt% was obtained for NaX-type zeolite at 4 MPa and 77 K. In CaA, NaX and ZSM-5 types of zeolites, hydrogen uptakes were proportional to the specific surface areas, which were associated with the available void volumes of the zeolites. A threshold in hydrogen adsorption observed in NaA and KA was attributed to a pore blocking effect by large cations in KA. A ratio of the kinetic diameter of adsorbate to the effective opening diameter of zeolite was used to judge the blocking effect for physisorption.