The location of physisorbed CO2 molecules on silicalite-1 zeolite (MFI-type) is determined using a single-crystal X-ray method. There are four sorption sites for CO2 molecules in the three-dimensional channel system of the silicalite-1. Two of them are in the straight channel in disorder (STR1 and STR2), while the other sites are in the sinusoidal channel (SIN) and at the intersection (INT). Their occupancy factors indicate that a large portion of the CO2 molecules are located in the straight channel. It is also revealed that the straight channel is the most favorable for CO2 molecules as sorption sites.

Structural analysis of CO2-silicalite-1 crystals using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method reveals that the crystal system is twinned monoclinic. The structure of silicalite-1 (MFI-type zeolites) loaded with CO2 has previously been solved in orthorhombic system [1], but the R value is still large. Since CO2 molecules are too small to maintain the orthorhombic structure, it is considered that the CO2-silicalite-1 crystals should be in the relaxed monoclinic twin phase. The diffraction data in the previous report is recalculated in P21 /n as the monoclinic twinning.

An orthorhombic benzene-silicalite-1 single crystal was obtained from a monoclinic twin crystal, and the structure was determined by a single-crystal method for the first time.

The actual adsorption structures of non-aromatic hydrocarbons on the MFI-type zeolites have not yet been determined. This is due to the presence of twinning, which makes crystallographic analysis difficult. We recently overcame this problem, and now report the various adsorption structures of n-butane, n-pentane, n-hexane, 1-butene, cis and trans-2-butene, 2-butyne and isopentane on silicalite-1 (MFI-type zeolite) as determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures were elucidated for both low and high loadings of each guest molecule in order to clarify the adsorption process. The low-loaded structures provide valuable insight into guest-framework interactions and initial adsorption behavior. The n-alkanes are initially adsorbed in the sinusoidal channel, while 2-butyne is adsorbed in the straight channel. In the case of the normal hydrocarbons, the molecular configuration (bent or linear) of the compound determines which channel is the preferred adsorption site. Bent molecules prefer the sinusoidal channel and linear molecules prefer the straight channel. In contrast, isopentane is initially adsorbed at the intersection, since the channels are too narrow to maintain the preferred distance between the framework and the bulky isopentane molecule. In the high-loaded structures, the guest molecules occupy additional sites, such that the normal hydrocarbons are located in both channels and isopentane is found at the intersection and the sinusoidal channel.

The process of CO2 adsorption on silicalite-1 zeolite (MFI-type) is revealed using a single-crystal X-ray method. The structure of CO2-silicalite-1 with a small amount of CO2 in the pore is determined, wherein most of CO2 molecules are located in the straight channel. It indicates the straight channel is the most stable sorption site based on the van der Waals interactions between the CO2 and the framework, and the CO2 molecules initially adsorb in the straight channel in the adsorption process. This is the first report to describe the structure of MFI-type zeolites with the adsorbate molecules occupying only the straight channel.