Amorphous Aluminum Silicate Adsorbent for High-Humidity Water Vapor Capture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current adsorbents fail to achieve high adsorption performance in mid to high humidity ranges and require vacuuming for carbon dioxide desorption, limiting their effectiveness in desiccant air conditioning and pressure swing adsorption methods.

Innovation Solution

A complex of layered low-crystallinity clay mineral and amorphous aluminum silicate is synthesized by adjusting the Si/Al ratio and heating at 110°C or higher, resulting in superior water vapor and carbon dioxide adsorption/desorption performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional adsorbents (zeolite or silica gel) are used, then the adsorption performance is moderate, but the adsorption amount in mid to high humidity range is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorption amountVSAvoidadsorption performance in mid to high humidity range
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite material consisting of layered low-crystallinity clay mineral and amorphous aluminum silicate. This composite structure combines the advantages of both materials to achieve superior adsorption performance in mid to high humidity ranges, resolving the contradiction between moderate adsorption performance and insufficient adsorption amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters of the adsorbent by controlling the Si/Al ratio (0.7 to 1.0) and heating temperature (110°C or higher) to form a specific amorphous aluminum silicate structure with layered low-crystallinity clay mineral. This parameter optimization enables the material to achieve 45 wt% water vapor adsorption at 60% relative humidity, significantly improving performance in mid to high humidity conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If conventional adsorbents are used for carbon dioxide desorption, then the desorption is achieved, but vacuuming is required which increases system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesorption operationVSAvoidvacuuming system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the pressure parameters for desorption by optimizing the pore structure and surface properties of the composite material. The specific structure allows carbon dioxide to be desorbed at atmospheric pressure or higher through pressure swing adsorption, eliminating the need for vacuuming systems and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical vacuuming system with a pressure-based desorption mechanism. By utilizing the unique pore structure and surface chemistry of the composite material, carbon dioxide desorption is achieved through pressure differential alone, substituting complex mechanical vacuum equipment with a simpler pressure control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If amorphous substance including imogolite structure is used, then the adsorption performance is 1.2 to 1.5 times better than zeolite or silica gel, but the adsorption performance twice or higher is required for miniaturization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorption performanceVSAvoidminiaturization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite material that achieves adsorption performance twice or higher than conventional materials. The combination of layered low-crystallinity clay mineral and amorphous aluminum silicate with optimized Si/Al ratio produces synergistic effects that double the adsorption capacity, enabling miniaturization of desiccant air conditioners.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the porous structure of amorphous aluminum silicate with controlled Si/Al ratio to maximize adsorption capacity. The optimized pore distribution and surface area enable the material to achieve twice the adsorption performance of conventional materials, providing the productivity needed for compact system design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The complex achieves 45 wt% water vapor adsorption at 60% relative humidity and 12 wt% carbon dioxide adsorption/desorption at 100 kPa to 900 kPa, enabling efficient desiccant air conditioning and pressure swing adsorption without vacuuming.

Implementation Method 1

the complex of the layered low-crystallinity clay mineral and the amorphous aluminum silicate having excellent adsorption properties in mid and high humidity ranges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

this complex yields a superior carbon dioxide adsorption/desorption performance of 12 wt% or more at 100 kPa to 900 kPa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

a pressure swing carbon dioxide adsorbent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure swing adsorption: Pressure Swing Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2233438B1Aluminum silicate complex, and high-performance adsorbent comprising the same
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
  • EP2233438B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2233438B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2233438B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided is an adsorbent having superior adsorption properties for use as a dehumidifying agent for desiccant air conditioning which exhibits high adsorption properties at mid and high humidity ranges, and for use as a gas adsorbent of carbon dioxide, ammonia, formaldehyde and the like. A precursor suspension having a Si/Al ratio of 0.70 to 1.0 is prepared, and the precursor suspension is subsequently heated at 110°C or higher for 2 days to synthesize a complex of a layered low-crystalline clay mineral and an amorphous aluminum silicate. The obtained complex of the layered low-crystalline clay mineral and the amorphous aluminum silicate yields excellent water vapor adsorption performance of 45 wt% or more at a relative humidity of 60%, and therefore can be used as an adsorbent for desiccant air conditioning. The complex also yields excellent carbon dioxide absorption/desorption performance of 12 wt% or more at 100 kPa to 900 kPa, and therefore can be used as a gas adsorbent for gas such as ammonia and formaldehyde.