13X Molecular Sieve (Sodium X Type)

What is 13X Molecular Sieve?

Key Takeaways:

• Core Specs: 10Å (1.0 nm) uniform pore size, Faujasite (FAU) structure, Sodium-type zeolite.
• Primary Advantage: Adsorbs larger molecules (mercaptans, aromatics) that 3A, 4A, and 5A sieves cannot capture.
• Top Applications: Air Separation Unit (ASU) pre-purification and natural gas sweetening (H₂S/CO₂ removal).
• Availability: Supplied in bulk beads, pellets, and powder.

13X molecular sieve is a sodium-form X-type zeolite with a uniform pore size of approximately 10 angstroms (1.0 nm). Belonging to the faujasite (FAU) framework family, 13X features the largest pore opening among commonly used industrial molecular sieves, giving it exceptional adsorption capacity and versatility. With its 10Å pore size and extensive internal surface area (800-1000 m²/g), 13X molecular sieve can adsorb virtually all molecules smaller than 10 angstroms — including water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, aromatics, and larger hydrocarbons. This makes it the go-to choice for complex gas purification tasks where smaller-pore sieves fall short.

This industrial-grade adsorbent is widely used in air separation pre-purification, natural gas sweetening, solvent recovery, and various industrial gas drying and purification applications.

Key Benefits

• Highest adsorption capacity: With 25%+ water capacity and 18%+ CO₂ capacity, 13X offers superior loading compared to Type A sieves, reducing bed size requirements
• Wide pore size: 10Å opening captures larger impurities like mercaptans and aromatics that 3A, 4A, and 5A sieves cannot remove
• Fast kinetics: Large pore openings enable rapid adsorption and desorption, shortening cycle times and improving process efficiency
• Single-bed purification: Simultaneously removes water, CO₂, H₂S, mercaptans, and other organic sulfur compounds in one step
• High thermal stability: Maintains structural integrity up to 600°C, suitable for high-temperature regeneration cycles
• Long service life: Withstands thousands of adsorption-regeneration cycles with minimal performance degradation
• Multiple product forms: Available in beads, pellets, and powder to accommodate different reactor designs and process requirements
• Deep purification: Achieves ppm-level impurity removal for demanding industrial gas specifications

For a deeper technical breakdown, see our complete 13X molecular sieve guide.

Product Forms

Beads (1.6-2.5mm, 3-5mm): Spherical particles offer low pressure drop and good flow characteristics, ideal for fixed-bed adsorption systems.

Pellets (1/16", 1/8"): Cylindrical extrudates provide high mechanical strength and bulk density, suitable for high-pressure and liquid-phase applications.

Powder (200-325 mesh): Fine powder form used in specialty applications, catalyst support, and as a raw material for membrane and coating production.

Applications

Air Separation Unit (ASU) Pre-Purification

13X molecular sieve is the industry-standard adsorbent for front-end purification in cryogenic air separation plants. Its large 10Å pore size and high capacity enable simultaneous removal of water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide (N₂O), and light hydrocarbons from feed air. This prevents freeze-up and blockage in cryogenic heat exchangers and distillation columns, ensuring reliable production of high-purity oxygen, nitrogen, and argon.

PSA / VPSA Oxygen and Nitrogen Generation

While 5A molecular sieve is typically the primary adsorbent for lower-purity PSA oxygen production, 13X sodium type is itself one of the two grades used in our Oxygen Generator Molecular Sieve product line — serving as the economical, industrial-grade option for 90-93% purity PSA/VPSA systems. 13X also plays a role as a pre-purification layer in some system designs, removing water, CO₂, and heavier contaminants from feed air before they reach the primary oxygen-selective bed.

Natural Gas Sweetening and Dehydration

13X molecular sieve is widely used in natural gas processing for simultaneous dehydration, acid gas removal (CO₂ and H₂S), and mercaptan removal. Its large pore size enables it to adsorb larger sulfur compounds like mercaptans and disulfides that smaller-pore sieves cannot capture. This single-bed multi-contaminant removal capability reduces equipment footprint and operating costs.

Solvent Recovery Systems

13X molecular sieve is highly effective for recovering organic solvents from industrial exhaust streams, including ketones, alcohols, esters, aromatics, and chlorinated solvents. Its large pore size and high organic capacity make it suitable for capturing a wide range of solvent vapors. The recovered solvents can be desorbed via thermal regeneration and reused.

Industrial Gas Drying and Purification

13X molecular sieve is used for drying and purifying a wide range of industrial gases including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, hydrogen, and specialty gases. Its deep purification capability achieves ppm-level residual impurity concentrations, meeting the most stringent industrial gas specifications.

Biogas Upgrading

13X molecular sieve is used in biogas upgrading processes to remove carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water vapor, and siloxanes from raw biogas. The result is pipeline-quality biomethane that can be injected into natural gas grids or used as a transportation fuel.

LPG Sweetening and Drying

13X removes hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, and moisture from LPG (propane, butane) to meet product quality specifications, prevent corrosion in storage systems, and protect downstream processing catalysts.

Liquid Hydrocarbon Drying

13X molecular sieve is used for drying various liquid hydrocarbon streams including benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, and diesel. Its ability to operate in liquid phase while maintaining high water capacity makes it suitable for refinery and petrochemical applications.

Regeneration Guide

13X molecular sieve is fully regenerable, and proper regeneration is critical for maintaining adsorption performance and maximizing service life.

Thermal Swing Adsorption (TSA): The most common regeneration method for drying and purification applications. The saturated bed is heated to 200-315°C (392-600°F) using a dry purge gas (typically nitrogen, natural gas, or product gas). Adsorbed water, CO₂, H₂S, and organic compounds are thermally desorbed and carried away by the purge gas. Typical regeneration cycle: 4-12 hours depending on bed depth and contaminant loading.

Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA): Used primarily in air separation and gas separation applications. The adsorbent bed is depressurized to near atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure, causing adsorbed species to desorb. A portion of the product gas is used as purge. PSA cycles are much shorter (seconds to minutes).

Vacuum Pressure Swing (VPSA): Combines vacuum desorption with moderate temperature elevation for high-efficiency regeneration in air separation applications.

Regeneration Best Practices:

• Always preheat regeneration gas to prevent thermal shock to the sieve bed
• Maintain counter-current flow direction (opposite to adsorption) for more efficient regeneration
• Avoid exceeding 600°C maximum operating temperature
• Ensure complete regeneration — incomplete regeneration leads to reduced capacity over time
• Monitor bed temperature profiles to confirm proper regeneration progression
• Protect the sieve bed from liquid water, oil, and heavy organic contaminants
• Use appropriate inlet distributors to ensure uniform flow distribution

Packaging & Shipping

We offer flexible packaging and shipping options to suit your project scale and logistics requirements.

Standard Packaging:

• 25 kg drums (moisture-proof, suitable for trial orders and small batches)
• 150 kg steel drums (standard bulk packaging for industrial orders)
• 500 kg super sacks (most popular for industrial bulk orders)
• 1000 kg jumbo bags (for large-scale projects)
• Custom packaging available on request

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ):

• 1 ton (entry-level orders accepted — perfect for first-time customers)
• 5+ tons (standard bulk orders)
• Container-level supply for long-term partnerships

Container Loading Capacity:

• 20'GP: 18–20 tons
• 40'GP: 22–24 tons
• 40'HQ: 24–26 tons

Loading Ports: Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin, Ningbo, Shenzhen.

Lead Time:

• Stock orders: 7–15 days from payment confirmation
• Made-to-order: 20–30 days

Shipping Terms: FOB / CIF / CFR / EXW — flexible based on destination and requirements.

Documents & Certificates

We provide complete documentation for every order:

📄 Technical Data Sheet (TDS) — Confirmed during product selection to ensure exact specifications match your application requirements.

📄 Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — Provided before shipment, compliant with international transportation and handling standards.

📄 Certificate of Analysis (COA) — Issued per production batch for full quality traceability.

Additional documents available on request: Certificate of Origin (COO), Packing List, Commercial Invoice, Third-party Inspection Report (SGS / BV), Form E (for applicable tariff preferences).

Storage Guidelines

• Store in original, unopened packaging in a cool, dry warehouse
• Keep away from direct moisture exposure and high humidity environments
• Avoid storage near volatile organic compounds, solvents, or strong odors
• Shelf life: 24 months from date of manufacture in unopened packaging
• Once opened, reseal tightly after each use to prevent moisture adsorption
• Palletized shipments should be stored off the floor to avoid moisture from concrete
• Inspect packaging for damage before use

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 13X and 5A molecular sieve? The primary differences are pore size and crystal structure. 5A molecular sieve (calcium type A) has a 5Å pore size, while 13X (sodium type X) has a 10Å pore size. The larger pore size of 13X allows it to adsorb larger molecules like mercaptans, aromatics, and heavier hydrocarbons that 5A cannot capture. 13X also generally has higher water and CO₂ capacity. For a full side-by-side breakdown, see our 13X vs 5A comparison guide.

How does 13X molecular sieve work? 13X operates through size-selective adsorption combined with strong electrostatic affinity. The uniform 10Å pores act as a molecular filter, allowing smaller molecules to enter the internal crystal structure. The negatively charged aluminosilicate framework creates strong polar sites that preferentially attract polar molecules like water, CO₂, and H₂S.

How do you regenerate 13X molecular sieve? 13X can be regenerated via Thermal Swing Adsorption (TSA) — heating to 200-315°C with dry purge gas; Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) — depressurization with product gas purge; or Vacuum Pressure Swing (VPSA) — vacuum desorption combined with moderate heating. Learn more about choosing the right molecular sieve for air drying.

Can 13X molecular sieve remove mercaptans? Yes, one of the key advantages of 13X over smaller-pore sieves (3A, 4A, 5A) is its ability to adsorb mercaptans and other larger sulfur compounds due to its 10Å pore size. This makes 13X particularly valuable for natural gas sweetening and LPG treatment applications.

Need a Custom Solution?

For bulk pricing and technical consultation on 13X molecular sieve for your air separation, gas sweetening, or solvent recovery project, please send your moisture content, gas flow rate, and operating pressure requirements to us. Our technical team will get back to you within 24 hours with a tailored solution.

[Contact Us →] | [Get a Quote →]