Abstract: Shaped products of a 3A zeolite are formed either as beads or extrudates without any binder remaining. In the case of beads, a 4A powder is mixed with a caustic solution and a metakaolin clay binder to form beads. The beads are converted to a binderless 4A product which is given a partial calcium exchange followed by a potassium exchange to obtain the desired 3A binderless bead. The 3A extrudates are produced by forming binderless 4A extrudates from a 4A powder and clay mixture that contains 40-60% by weight clay. These binderless 4A extrudates are then given a potassium exchange. Both the beads and the extrudates can be used to dry a mixture of a hydrocarbon compound such as ethylene and water.

Abstract: Binderless zeolite sieve extrudates are made by extruding a mixture containing about 40-60% zeolites with the remainder being a metakaolin clay that has mixed with it about 90-120% of the stoichiometric amount of sodium hydroxide to convert the clay to a zeolite. After extrusion the particles are allowed to dry age during which time most of the clay is converted to the zeolite. A further heat treatment in a dilute caustic aqueous solution insures complete crystallization with subsequent washing and calcination to produce an adsorbent product.