Evaluation of gas adsorption and separation performance of binder-free Y zeolite particles prepared by the rotary pelletization method

• Preparation of binder free Y zeolite by rotational molding method. • Binder-free Y zeolite pellets show high CO 2 adsorption. • Dynamic adsorption tested in continuous airflow conditions. • The cyclic performance of BF-Y-Z tested by a six tower VSA system. • Enables large-scale production for VSA applications with BF-Y-Z material. Y zeolite has been widely utilized in carbon dioxide capture due to its superior gas adsorption and separation capabilities. However, most reported Y zeolites are in powder form, and the incorporation of binders to pelletize Y zeolite often diminishes performance, thereby limiting industrial applications. This study utilized montmorillonite nanotubes (HNTs) and Y zeolite powder as raw materials to prepare binder-free Y- zeolite particles (BF-Y-Z) through calcination and crystallization. The gas adsorption and separation performance of BF-Y-Z were evaluated, and the Ideal Adsorption Solution Theory (IAST) model was applied to calculate the CO 2 /N 2 separation coefficient. The results demonstrated that BF-Y-Z exhibited excellent CO 2 adsorption capacity and CO 2 /N 2 separation performance. The dynamic adsorption performance was assessed using a custom-built breakthrough device. At 303 K, the dynamic adsorption capacity of the sample was 2.02 mmol/g, demonstrating its efficiency in capturing CO 2 from flowing gases. The cyclic adsorption and separation performance was tested using a six-tower circulating device. With an adsorption time of 220 s and a desorption time of 240 s, the product gas achieved a purity of 96 % and a recovery rate of 90 %. This study presents a straightforward and scalable method for producing binder-free Y zeolite pellets, highlighting their potential for broad application in carbon capture technologies.