Adsorption of water vapor on X and Y zeolites exchanged with barium

Abstract The adsorption of water vapor on BaY and BaX zeolites is studied by thermogravimetry and calorimetry under isothermal or isobaric conditions. The faujasite zeolite exhibits a stronger adsorption affinity for water molecules with barium than with sodium or potassium as exchangeable cations. The adsorption–desorption isotherm at 150°C shows a hysteresis loop attributed to the migration of compensating cations during their interaction with water molecules. Calorimetric measurements and the Dubinin–Radushkevich’s model both show that the adsorption of water occurs via a three-step mechanism: adsorption on compensating cations, formation of a monolayer on the walls and multilayer adsorp…