Molecular Sieve 3A
Crack-free drying for ethanol, insulating glass and refrigerants
3A zeolite with 3Å pores that adsorbs water while excluding molecules larger than 3Å, ideal for ethanol and refrigerant dehydration.
Product Overview
Molecular sieve 3A has an effective pore opening of 3 angstroms, admitting only water and a few small molecules. This unique selectivity makes it the standard desiccant for insulating glass, ethanol dehydration, refrigerant drying (HFC/HFO) and solvent drying where co-adsorption of organic molecules must be avoided.
Our 3A sieve delivers industry-leading water capacity, negligible ethylene and propylene co-adsorption, and excellent resistance to acid attack from refrigerant decomposition, guaranteeing crack-free insulating glass units and prolonged molecular sieve service life.
Key Features
- Adsorbs water only; excludes organics above 3Å
- Negligible co-adsorption of hydrocarbons in solvents
- Crack-free performance in insulating glass units
- High crush strength and low dust
- Resists acid attack from refrigerant breakdown
Technical Specifications
| Pore diameter | 3Å |
|---|---|
| Water adsorption | ≥ 20% (25°C, RH 60%) |
| Static H₂O adsorption | ≥ 19.5% |
| Crush strength | ≥ 70 N/particle |
| Bulk density | 0.65-0.75 g/cm³ |
| Regeneration temperature | 200-350°C |
Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 3A preferred over 4A for ethanol drying?
Ethanol molecules are about 4.4Å, so 4A would co-adsorb the product. The 3Å pore admits only water, enabling deep dehydration of ethanol without product loss.
What does "crack-free" mean for insulating glass?
Crack-free refers to the sieve beads not shattering inside the sealed unit, which would release dust and accelerate desiccant exhaustion. Our 3A is formulated for low thermal shock cracking.
Related Products
More products from the Molecular Sieve family.
Molecular Sieve 4A
4A zeolite for deep dehydration of natural gas, LPG and liquid streams with excellent capacity and regeneration economics.
View Details
Molecular Sieve 5A
5A zeolite for PSA oxygen generation, CO₂ removal from natural gas and linear paraffin separation.
View Details
Molecular Sieve 13X
13X zeolite with the largest common pore (10Å), offering maximum adsorption capacity for PSA oxygen and heavy-molecule removal.
View Details