In-situ growth of zeolites on metal foamed supports for adsorption heat pumps

In this paper, the preparation of an adsorbent bed for adsorption heat pumps obtained by depositing zeolites on metal foam structures is discussed. Zeolites, the active adsorbent phase, were directly grown by in situ synthesis on high surface area metal foams to improve heat and mass transfer in the adsorbent beds. Coatings of zeolite 4A on copper foams and of zeolite Y on aluminum foams were prepared and characterized by SEM, XRD analysis and measurement of the water equilibrium sorption curves by thermo-gravimetric method. The results, in terms of coatings thickness and zeolite characteristics, confirmed the chance for further developments of such zeolite-metal foam composites.