Molecular simulation of adsorption of alkanes in sodium MOR-type zeolites using a new force field.

The applicability of a recently proposed force field of Calero et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 11377) to Na-MOR zeolites is evaluated. The Henry law coefficients of ethane and C(5)-C(9) as well as the adsorption isotherms of ethane, propane, butane, and hexane in various Na-MOR zeolites are computed and compared with experimental values. These comparisons show that the new force field is suitable for Na-MOR zeolites. Furthermore, this force field is used to study the effects of sodium cations on the adsorption behavior of larger alkanes, such as C(4)-C(7), in MOR-type zeolites. These simulations give a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the cations' position and density influence on adsorption. In addition, a characteristic pressure named "reversal pressure" is introduced which characterizes the efficiency of the presence of cations in zeolites.