Efficient separation of ethane and ethylene using an electrically neutral aluminum phosphate zeolite with ultra‐microporous structures

Abstract Developing ethane (C 2 H 6 )‐selective adsorbents is crucial for energy‐efficient separation and the direct production of high‐purity ethylene (C 2 H 4 ). While pure‐silica zeolites show promise, their limited selectivity necessitates the exploration of alternative materials. Herein, we present AlPO 4 ‐17, an electrically neutral aluminum phosphate (AlPO) zeolite and isostructural analog of pure‐silica zeolites. Featuring ultra‐microporous structures and low‐polarity surfaces, AlPO 4 ‐17 exhibits denser and stronger C−H···O interactions with C 2 H 6 than with C 2 H 4 . This results in the highest experimentally confirmed C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 selectivity (2.27) and C 2 H 6 adsorption heat (36.05 kJ/mol) among all reported C 2 H 6 ‐selective zeolites. Breakthrough experiments validate its superior C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 separation performance. Vacuum pressure swing adsorption (PSA) experiments demonstrate its practical efficiency under real‐world conditions, while PSA simulations highlight its potential for enhanced recovery. As the first AlPO zeolite developed for C 2 H 6 /C 2 H 4 separation, AlPO 4 ‐17 offers valuable insights into the design of advanced C 2 H 6 ‐selective adsorbents, paving the way for more efficient industrial C 2 H 4 purification processes.