Concentration of alcohols by adsorption on silicalite

Silicalite, a zeolite analogue, selectively adsorbs organic molecules from aqueous solution, the adsorption depending on the stereochemistry and organophilic nature. This provides a possible economic route for the separation of alcohols from dilute solutions. Ethanol has been concentrated from a 2% (w/v) solution to 35%, and butan-1-ol from 0.5 to 98% (w/v) by adsorption on silicalite and subsequent thermal desorption.