Natural Gas Processing
& Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

Reliable moisture removal for natural gas processing and LNG production

Water removal is a critical step in natural gas processing, particularly in cryogenic applications where even trace amounts of moisture can lead to ice or hydrate formation, equipment blockage, increased pressure drop, or even plant shutdowns.

Zeochem's molecular sieves provide effective dehydration of natural gas and other vapor hydrocarbon streams, helping operators achieve water concentrations below 0.1 ppmv where required by the process design. Zeochem’s molecular sieves also provide effective dehydration of liquid hydrocarbon streams, maintaining below 1 ppmw where required by the process design.

Our adsorbents support a wide range of applications, including:

• Natural gas dehydration for cryogenic processing and LNG production
• Pipeline gas drying and water dew point control
• NGL recovery and fractionation
• LPG, propane, butane, and condensate drying
• Liquid hydrocarbon dehydration

Recommended Molecular Sieve Products

4A Molecular Sieve

Zeochem's Z4-04 is a standard 4A molecular sieve designed for effective dehydration of hydrocarbon gas and liquid streams. Zeochem’s Z4-24 is an enhanced performance product offering improved capacity and coking resistance allowing for process optimization.

These products are effective choices for applications where co-adsorption of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and sulfur compounds is not a significant concern. In streams containing both H₂S and CO₂, alternative molecular sieve grades may be recommended to minimize the potential formation of carbonyl sulfide (COS).

Typical regeneration temperature: 550°F (288°C), with an operating range of 500–600°F (260–315°C).

3A Molecular Sieve

Zeochem's Z3-06 provides selective water adsorption while limiting the co-adsorption of larger molecules, including hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and sulfur contaminants. Zeochem’s Z3-26 is an enhanced performance product offering improved capacity and coking resistance allowing for process optimization.

The selectivity of Zeochem’s 3A products helps maintain more consistent product and regeneration gas compositions, reducing the risk of contaminant spikes that could affect product quality or regeneration gas handling.

Z3-06 and Z3-26 also help reduce hydrocarbon co-adsorption and allow for lower regeneration temperatures compared to typical 4A dehydration applications. This can allow for significant reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Typical regeneration temperature: 450°F (232°C), with an operating range of 400–500°F (204–260°C).

Effective sulfur removal to meet hydrocarbon purity specifications

Sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and mercaptans can affect product quality and create challenges in downstream processing. Removing these contaminants is essential for meeting sulfur specifications in natural gas, LNG, NGLs, and fractionated hydrocarbon products.

Zeochem offers specialized 5A and 13X molecular sieves for sulfur removal from gas and liquid hydrocarbon streams. Depending on process requirements, sulfur removal can be performed in vapor-phase treatment units or downstream liquid-phase treaters.

Recommended Molecular Sieve Products

5A Molecular Sieves | Removal of Smaller Sulfur Compounds

Zeochem's Z5-01 and Z5-03HP are designed to adsorb sulfur compounds with kinetic diameters of approximately 5 Å or less, including:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)
• Methyl mercaptan
• Ethyl mercaptan

These products offer strong physical properties, adsorption kinetics, and hydrothermal stability for regenerative sulfur removal applications. Z5-03HP helps minimize COS formation when hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are present.

Zeochem’s Z5-05HP is an enhanced performance product offering improved capacity and coking resistance allowing for process optimization.

13X Molecular Sieves | Removal of Larger Sulfur Compounds

For applications involving larger sulfur molecules, Zeochem's Z10-01 and Z10-03 offer a wider pore structure and high adsorption capacity. Zeochem’s Z10-23HP is an enhanced performance product offering improved capacity and coking resistance allowing for process optimization.

With pore openings of approximately 10 Å, these adsorbents are particularly effective for removing larger sulfur compounds, including propyl and butyl mercaptans, that cannot readily enter smaller-pore molecular sieves.

The high adsorption capacity and favorable kinetics of Zeochem’s 13X molecular sieves make them a reliable choice for applications requiring broader sulfur removal or additional process optimization.

Protect product quality and downstream processes with effective oxygenate removal

Oxygenates, including alcohols, ethers, and ketones, can create challenges in hydrocarbon processing and downstream applications. Removing these impurities helps maintain product specifications, protect catalysts, and support process reliability.

Zeochem offers molecular sieves for oxygenate removal from both vapor and liquid hydrocarbon streams. Product selection is based on the specific oxygenate compounds, feed composition, and required outlet specifications.

Recommended Molecular Sieve Products

13X Molecular Sieves | Broad-Spectrum Oxygenate Removal

Zeochem's 13X molecular sieves are typically the preferred choice for oxygenate removal applications.

Their large pore openings, approximately 10 Å, and open pore structure provide high adsorption capacity and effective removal of a broad range of oxygenate molecules.

These products deliver high removal efficiency and can adsorb both small and larger oxygenate compounds, making them a versatile option for a wide range of applications.

Typical regeneration temperature: 550°F (288°C), with a range of 450–600°F (232–315°C), depending on the oxygenates and water content.

4A and 5A Molecular Sieves | Removal of Smaller Oxygenates

Zeochem's 4A and 5A molecular sieves provide effective alternatives for removing smaller oxygenates, including methanol and ethanol, when the broader adsorption capabilities of 13X are not required.

For applications involving both water and alcohol removal, a separate layer of Zeochem's 3A molecular sieve may be used for selective dehydration, helping optimize the overall adsorption and regeneration process.

Reliable CO₂ removal for natural gas purification and LNG pretreatment

Carbon dioxide removal is an important part of natural gas processing, particularly in cryogenic applications where CO₂ can freeze and obstruct downstream equipment.

Zeochem offers molecular sieve adsorbents for CO₂ removal from natural gas streams, helping operators meet process requirements for NGL recovery and LNG production.

Depending on feed composition and system design, our products can achieve CO₂ concentrations below 50 ppmv, with lower levels possible in select applications.

Molecular sieve CO₂ removal is particularly useful for small-scale LNG production, peak-shaving operations, and specialized gas purification systems.

Recommended Molecular Sieve Products

13X Molecular Sieves | High-Capacity CO₂ Removal

Zeochem's 13X molecular sieves are a preferred solution for CO₂ removal from light hydrocarbon gas streams.

These products offer high adsorption capacity and are used in selected peak-shaving applications, including systems treating feed streams with CO₂ concentrations up to 3%.

In certain small-scale LNG applications, specialized molecular sieve system designs may provide an alternative to conventional upstream amine treatment, depending on feed composition and operating requirements.

5A Molecular Sieves | Selective CO₂ Removal

Zeochem's 5A molecular sieves provide an effective alternative for CO₂ removal, particularly when hydrogen sulfide is also present.

Their adsorption characteristics make them a preferred option for applications where minimizing COS formation is an important consideration.

Typical regeneration temperature for CO₂ removal applications: 350–550°F (177–288°C), depending on water content and other impurities.