Development of adsorbent materials for adsorption cooling, Research contract between FAHRENHEIT AG and CNR ICCOM, first technical report

The possible use of alumino-silica zeolites in adsorption chillers/heat pumps needs the substantial modification of their high hydrophilic character. Modifications of the zeolite structure can be conveniently achieved by variation of the Al/Si ratio and/or by ions exchange. Accordingly, the general aim of this research activity is the synthesis, characterization and study of the water adsorption properties of a number of standard, high-silica and ion-exchanged Y-type zeolites. The expected result of such structural modifications is the increased hydrophobicity that correspond to a convenient shift of the typical (unfavourable for low-temperature applications) Type I isotherm of highly hydrophilic alumino-silica zeolites. The approach to develop the synthesis procedures will account the need of using cheap raw materials and a simple preparative. The most promising samples will be further studied in order to verify the structural stability. The specific activity carried out during the first months of the project focused on the following main actions: 1) Zeolite Y standard synthesis and characterization 2) Synthesis of high-silica zeolite Y 3) Acquisition of exchange ions