Removal and recovery of nitriles from gaseous streams: An IR study of acetonitrile adsorption on and desorption from inorganic solids

The adsorption and the desorption of acetonitrile over several different inorganic solids (such as silicas, aluminas, modified aluminas, silica-aluminas, metal oxides, protonic zeolites, alkali-metal zeolites, and clays) have been investigated by IR spectroscopy. Different kinds of interactions (weak to strong hydrogen-bonding, coordination on Lewis acid sites, different kinds of surface chemical reactions) have been observed. The temperature needed for acetonitrile desorption from these solids has also been determined. Silicas and alkali metal zeolites have been found to allow molecular adsorption without reactivity and to allow desorption in mild conditions.