CONFORMATION OF CONFINED ALKANES - N-BUTANE IN ZEOLITE-Y

Configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulation of n-butane in NaY zeolite has been reported at different temperatures and loadings. In contrast to n-butane in silicalite, the gauche conformer population is always found to be higher in zeolite NaY than in pure fluid at the same densi ty. Normally, an increase in adsorbate concentration in gases such as methane, rare gases, etc. leads to an increase in population near the cage centre. In contrast, we find that an increase in n-butane concent ration gives rise to an increase in population near the periphery of t he cage. Enhancement in gauche conformer population observed for NaY z eolite is attributed to the surface curvature of the alpha-cavity. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.