IJCEA 2026 Vol.17(1): 7-11
doi: 10.18178/ijcea.2026.17.1.851
Comparative Performance of Molecular Sieve- and Resin-Coated Ceramic Honeycomb Beds for Carbon Dioxide Adsorption
Shi-Cheng Huang1, Shun Gao2, and Tsair-Wang Chung1,*
1. Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
2. Department of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Email: tinachencycu@gmail.com (S.C.H.); Shun12202@yahoo.com (S.G.); twchungcycu@gmail.com (T.W.C.)
*Corresponding author
Manuscript received December 18, 2025; accepted January 21, 2026; published February 28, 2026
Abstract—This study employed ceramic honeycomb tubes coated with 13X molecular sieve and purolite A110 resin as adsorbents to compare their gas adsorption performance. The effects of gas flow rate, inlet concentration, bed height, and gas composition were systematically investigated to identify the influence of operating conditions for each adsorbent. When adsorption efficiency declined below a critical threshold, breakthrough curve analysis was used to determine the optimal replacement time of the adsorbent, providing practical guidance for engineering applications. Multi-component dynamic adsorption experiments revealed competitive adsorption among gases. When carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen coexisted, both 13X and A110 selectively adsorbed carbon dioxide, demonstrating their preferential affinity toward CO₂. Based on equilibrium uptake values, 13X achieved an adsorption capacity of 74.63 mg/g, while A110 reached 68.57 mg/g, indicating a higher selectivity ratio for 13X. Equilibrium adsorption experiments further showed that A110 exhibited greater adsorption capacity at low CO₂ partial pressures (low concentrations). However, as the partial pressure increased, A110’s adsorption capacity plateaued, while that of 13X continued to rise. This indicates that A110 is more effective under low CO₂ concentrations, whereas 13X performs better at higher concentrations. The observed behavior is attributed to the larger pore structure and amine functional groups of A110, which enhance CO₂ binding under dilute conditions, whereas the microporous framework and high specific surface area of 13X, confirmed by Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis, contribute to its superior performance at elevated concentrations.
Keywords—adsorption, selectivity, carbon dioxide, molecular sieve 13X, resin A110, honeycomb bed
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Cite: Shi-Cheng Huang, Shun Gao, and Tsair-Wang Chung, "Comparative Performance of Molecular Sieve- and Resin-Coated Ceramic Honeycomb Beds for Carbon Dioxide Adsorption," International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 7-11, 2026.
