Adsorption Properties of ZSM-5 Molecular Sieve for Perfluoroisobutyronitrile Mixtures and Its Fluorocarbon Decomposition Products

Perfluoroisobutyronitrile (C4F7N), an environment-friendly insulating gas, has excellent insulating properties and has the potential to be used in gas-insulated equipment when mixed with CO2. Selecting suitable adsorption materials to adsorb the decomposition products of the C4F7N mixture can ensure the safe and stable operation of the gas-insulated equipment and the personal safety of the operators in the electric power industry. The adsorption characteristics of the ZSM-5 molecular sieve on C4F7N and its five fluorocarbon decomposition products were investigated by adsorption experiments. The results show that the ZSM-5 molecular sieve has a certain adsorption effect on six fluorocarbon gases; the adsorption performance of C3F6 and C3F8 are the best, with an adsorption efficiency over 85%, while the concentration of CO2 and C4F7N is affected by the ZSM-5 molecular sieve. At the same time, the paper based on the Metropolis Monte Carlo simulation of Materials Studio software found that the ZSM-5 molecular sieve has the strongest adsorption effect on C4F7N molecules and the weakest adsorption effect on CO2 molecules. The stronger the polarity of the gas molecule, the more obvious the adsorption effect of molecular sieve structure on it. As a result, the ZSM-5 molecular sieve could be used in tail gas purification of insulated equipment, as well as to provide solutions for the development and production of protective equipment.