Silicalite-1, an adsorbent for 2-, 3-, and 4-chlorophenols.

The adsorption of the three chlorophenol isomers, ortho, meta and para, by silicalite-1 has been studied at 30 °C, below the solubility (at the same temperature) in water. Large differences, up to 30 times, have been observed between the adsorption of the para- vs. the ortho-isomer. The difference of behavior observed between the isomers is assigned to the tendency to self-organization of the para-isomer. It seems probable that the adsorption sites are at the intersection channels. From a technical point of view, silicalite-1 seems a competitive adsorbent for p-chlorophenol.