Application of SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve to separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures

SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve self-prepared through one-step synthesis was used in separation of olefin/paraffin mixtures by means of gas chromatographic technique. Separation of the gaseous mixture of methane, ethane, ethylene, propane and propylene could be achieved in short retention time by using the SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve as chromatographic stationary phase. The SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve could be applied to separation of liquid mixtures of n-hexane/1-hexene, n-heptane/1-heptene and n-octane/1-octene also. Structure of the SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve was characterized by means of XRD and N 2 adsorption-desorption. The synthesized SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve possessed large specific surface area and pore volume, narrow pore size distribution and some micropores. Due to its excellent textural properties and high adsorption selectivity to olefins, which should be attributed to the micropores as adsorption sites existing on the mesopore wall, SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve was more suitable as the stationary phase for gas chromatographic separation of olefin/paraffin than conventional silica gel.