A molecular sieve is a material containing tiny pores of a precise and uniform size that is used as an adsorbent for gases and liquids. In chemistry, adsorption of a substance is its concentration on a particular surface. ... A gas is one of the four main phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma), that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... A liquid will assume the shape of its container. ...

Molecules small enough to pass through the pores are adsorbed while larger molecules are not. It is different from a common filter in that it operates on a molecular level. For instance, a water molecule may be small enough to pass through while larger molecules are not. Because of this, they often function as a desiccant. Molecular sieve can absorb water up to 22% of its own weight. In chemistry, a molecule is an aggregate of at least two atoms in a definite arrangement held together by special forces. ... Adsorption is a process that occurs when a liquid or gas (called adsorbate) accumulates on the surface of a solid or liquid (adsorbent), forming a molecular or atomic film (adsorbate). ... A desiccant is a substance that adsorbs moisture from the air. ...

Often they consist of aluminosilicate minerals or synthetic compounds that have open structures through which small molecules can diffuse, such as clays, porous glasses, microporous charcoals, active carbons etc... Aluminosilicate minerals are minerals that have the basic structure and composition of AlSiO4. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of natural clays. ... Glass can be made transparent and flat, or into other shapes and colours as shown in this ball from the Verrerie of Brehat in Brittany. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ...

Molecular sieves are usually utilized in the petroleum industry, especially with purification of gas streams. The mercury content of natural gas is extremely harmful to the aluminum piping and other parts of the liquefaction apparatus - silica gel is used in this case. Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a black, dark brown or greenish liquid found in porous rock formations in the earth. ... General Name, Symbol, Number mercury, Hg, 80 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 6, d Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 200. ... Some examples of silica gel sachets Silica gel is a granular, porous form of silica made synthetically from sodium silicate. ...

Methods for Regeneration of molecular sieves include by pressure change as in oxygen concentrators or by heating and purging with a carrier gas as when used in ethanol dehydration. In biology, regeneration is the ability to recreate lost or damaged tissues, organs and limbs. ... Information on pump, California. ...

See also

Some of the many types of molecular sieves are:

• Activated carbon
• Desiccant
• Lime (mineral)
• Silica gel
• Zeolite

Activated carbon from a water filter used for carbon filtering in powder and block form Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal or activated coal, is a general term which covers carbon material mostly derived from charcoal. ... A desiccant is a substance that adsorbs moisture from the air. ... Lime is a general term for various naturally occurring minerals and materials derived from them in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides of calcium predominate. ... Some examples of silica gel sachets Silica gel is a granular, porous form of silica made synthetically from sodium silicate. ... Zeolite Zeolites (Greek, zein,to boil;lithos,a stone) are minerals that have a porous structure. ...

External links

• Sieves put a lid on greenhouse gas
• Molecular Sieve Patents