Inventors:
Norman H. Horton - Tallahassee FL
John L. Smith - Tallahassee FL
Assignee:
Engelhard Minerals & Chemicals Corporation - Edison NJ
International Classification:
F01C 1902, B01J 800, B01J 2906
Abstract:
Disclosed are a method and system for ion-exchanging cations in zeolitic particles of a size useful in fluidized bed processes; for example, zeolitic microspheres of the type employed in fluidized bed hydrocarbon conversion processes. The zeolitic particles are ion-exchanged by a stagewise countercurrent contact with ion-exchange liquid as they are moved in series over a continuously moving horizontal vacuum belt filter in the form of a thin porous cake, then into an agitated tank where the cake is formed into a slurry, and to another continuously moving vacuum belt filter where the microspheres are again formed into a thin porous cake. The latter cake is contacted with incoming ion-exchange liquid that percolates through the cake, passes to the agitated tank and is charged to the cake on the first belt filter.