Microwave Assisted Regeneration of Zeolite

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental study on zeolite NaX dehydration under microwave irradiation at a laboratory scale. Dehydration rates vary linearly with the absorbed power and show no influence with the purge gas flowrate. A pulsed mode of irradiation enhances dehydration due to higher temperatures reached and improved mass transport rates. A thermal balance model is developed in order to assess the maximum temperature reached in the adsorbent bed and the use of the dissipated energy inside the solid is discussed. From these results, this paper evaluates the economic interest in a microwave regeneration process and discusses the technical feasibility at an industrial scale.