A LIQUID-PHASE CHROMATOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SORPTION AND DIFFUSION OF GLUCOSE AND FRUCTOSE IN NAX AND KX ZEOLITE CRYSTALS

Adsorption and diffusion of glucose and fructose in NaX and KX zeolite crystals has been studied by liquid chromatography, using a column packed with 50- mu m (unaggregated) crystals. The eliminates macropore resistance and maximizes intacrystalline diffusion resistance, thus facilitating the reliable determination of intracrystalline diffusivity. However, even under these conditions, reliable diffusivities cannot be determined when the equilibrium constant is small ( less than 0. 1). Although the equilibrium constants for NaX and KX are substantially different, there is little difference in the intracrystalline diffusivity, which, for both fructose and glucose, is approximately 10** minus **9 cm**2 s** minus **1 at room temperature.