Deep removal of trace C(2)H(2) and CO(2) from C(2)H(4) by using customized potassium-exchange mordenite

Adsorptive separation using porous materials is a promising approach for separating alkynes/olefins due to its energy efficiency, while the deep removal of trace amounts of C(2)H(2) and CO(2) from C(2)H(4) is still very challenging for a commercial adsorbent. Herein, we report a low-cost inorganic metal cation-mediated mordenite (MOR) zeolite with the specific location and distribution of K(+) cations acting as a goalkeeper for accurately controlling diffusion channels, as evidence of the experimental and simulation results. Deep purification of C(2)H(4) from ternary CO(2)/C(2)H(2)/C(2)H(4) mixtures was first realized on K–MOR with exceptional results, achieving a remarkable polymer-grade C(2)H(4) productivity of 1742 L kg(−1) for the CO(2)/C(2)H(2)/C(2)H(4) mixture. Our approach which only involves adjusting the equilibrium ions, is both promising and cost-effective, and opens up new possibilities for the use of zeolites in the industrial light hydrocarbon adsorption and purification process.