CWK Molecular Sieves — Köstrolith synthetic zeolites (3A, 4A, 5A, 13X, NaY, SX6 & binder-free BFK)

Supply Köstrolith synthetic hydrophilic zeolitic molecular sieves from CWK Business Unit Molecular Sieves (Chemiewerk Bad Köstritz GmbH, Germany): 1–5 mm spherical beads, 100% active binder-free BFK grades, extruded pellets and activated polyurethane powders.

3 Å Molecular Sieves CWK Köstrolith® 3AK & 3ABFK

Potassium-exchanged synthetic Type A zeolites Köstrolith 3AK (clay-bound) and 3ABFK (binder-free beads with up to 100% active zeolite) feature an effective pore aperture of ~3 Å, selectively adsorbing water molecules while excluding unsaturated hydrocarbons and alcohols.

Product grades: spherical beads Köstrolith 3AK and binder-free spheres Köstrolith 3ABFK (1–5 mm)
Deep dehydration of ethylene, propylene, butadiene and cracked gas without olefin oligomerization
Liquid-phase drying of polar solvents: fuel ethanol, methanol, isopropanol and refrigerants
Desiccant filling for insulating glass unit (IGU) spacer bars preventing glass deflection

Universal 4 Å Molecular Sieves CWK Köstrolith® 4AK & 4ABFK

Sodium-form Type A zeolites Köstrolith 4AK and binder-free 4ABFK (~4 Å pore diameter) serve as universal industrial desiccants for deep drying of natural gas, instrument compressed air, inert gases, LPG, liquid hydrocarbons and transformer oils.

Product grades: spherical beads Köstrolith 4AK and high-capacity binder-free Köstrolith 4ABFK (1–5 mm)
Static and dynamic dehydration of natural gas, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and compressed air
Adsorbs molecules with critical diameters up to 4 Å including H2O, NH3, H2S, SO2 and CO2
Widely used in refrigerant filter-driers, pneumatic brake air driers and moisture-barrier packaging

5 Å Molecular Sieves CWK Köstrolith® 5AK & 5ABFK

Calcium-exchanged Type A zeolites Köstrolith 5AK and binder-free 5ABFK (~5 Å pore aperture) selectively adsorb straight-chain normal paraffins while excluding branched iso-paraffins and cyclic hydrocarbons, and serve as core adsorbents in hydrogen PSA units.

Product grades: spherical beads Köstrolith 5AK and binder-free spheres Köstrolith 5ABFK (1–5 mm)
Industrial separation of normal paraffins from branched iso-paraffins and naphthenes
High-purity hydrogen recovery and purification in Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA H2) plants
Co-adsorption of moisture, CO2, H2S and light mercaptans from natural gas and syngas streams

Large-Pore Faujasite Zeolites CWK Köstrolith® NaMSXK, 13XBFK, NaYK & NaYBFK

Faujasite-type X and Y molecular sieves (~9–10 Å pore opening) provide high micropore volume for simultaneous removal of H2O, trace CO2, H2S, mercaptans and bulky organic molecules ahead of cryogenic air separation and petrochemical units.

Type X grades: high-capacity Köstrolith NaMSXK beads and binder-free Köstrolith 13XBFK spheres
Type Y grades (higher Si/Al ratio and acid resistance): Köstrolith NaYK and binder-free NaYBFK
Cryogenic Air Separation Unit (ASU) feed air pre-purification removing H2O, CO2 and C2H2
Sweetening and mercaptan removal from natural gas, LPG, NGL, jet fuel and liquid aromatics

High-Performance Zeolite CWK Köstrolith® SX6K for PSA/VPSA Oxygen Generation

CWK Köstrolith SX6K is a specialized high-capacity molecular sieve engineered for non-cryogenic air separation via Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) and Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption (VPSA), delivering superior nitrogen adsorption capacity and N2/O2 selectivity.

Enhanced dynamic nitrogen (N2) adsorption capacity and high N2/O2 separation factor
Uniform spherical bead geometry ensuring dense bed packing, low pressure drop and minimal attrition
Designed for medical oxygen concentrators and industrial VPSA/PSA oxygen plants (90–95% O2)
High crush strength and cyclic durability under rapid pressure-swing operating regimes

Binder-Free Molecular Sieves CWK Köstrolith® BFK (Up to 100% Active Zeolite)

In CWK's Köstrolith BFK binder-free spherical beads (grades 3ABFK, 4ABFK, 5ABFK, 13XBFK, NaYBFK), the temporary clay binder is hydrothermally converted into active crystalline zeolite during manufacturing, yielding nearly 100% active zeolite content.

15–20% higher equilibrium and dynamic adsorption capacity compared to conventional clay-bound beads
Open transport macropore network providing a shorter mass transfer zone (MTZ) and faster desorption
Zero inert clay binder: eliminates catalytic side reactions, coking and green oil formation
Extended adsorbent campaign life in reactive monomer, olefin, diene and alcohol dehydration units

Activated Zeolite Powders, Extruded Pellets & IGU Desiccants CWK Köstrolith®

Alongside 1–5 mm spherical beads, CWK Molecular Sieves manufactures extruded cylindrical pellets, micronised activated zeolite powders for moisture scavenging in polyurethane formulations, and low-dust molecular sieves for insulating glass units.

Activated Köstrolith powders: trace moisture scavengers in 1K/2K polyurethane coatings, adhesives and sealants
Prevents CO2 blistering and foaming caused by isocyanate-moisture reactions in CASE formulations
Calibrated low-deflection beads for automated filling of insulating glass unit (IGU) spacer profiles
Extruded cylindrical pellets for fixed-bed industrial gas and liquid drying columns

Industrial Thermal Regeneration of Molecular Sieves & Contract Granulation

Chemiewerk Bad Köstritz operates dedicated rotary kilns and analytical laboratories for thermal regeneration of spent molecular sieves and offers custom contract granulation, drying and calcination of customer powders.

Thermal regeneration of used zeolites including de-dusting, screening and residual capacity testing
Custom contract granulation and shaping of fine powders into spherical beads or pellets
Moisture-tight industrial packaging: lined steel drums and barrier-lined FIBC big bags
Certified quality, environmental and energy systems: DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001, ISO 50001

CWK Business Unit Molecular Sieves (Geschäftsbereich Molekularsiebe) overview

The Molecular Sieves Business Unit of Chemiewerk Bad Köstritz GmbH (CWK Molecular Sieves, located at Heinrichshall 2, 07586 Bad Köstritz, Thuringia, Germany; General Manager Dr.

Kristin Gleichmann) has developed and manufactured synthetic hydrophilic zeolitic molecular sieves under the Köstrolith® trademark since 1958.

The Köstrolith portfolio covers synthetic crystalline aluminosilicates of structural types A, X and Y with active zeolite contents from 80% up to 100%, supplied as 1–5 mm spherical beads, extruded cylindrical pellets and micronised activated powders.

When submitting an inquiry, please specify the Köstrolith grade (3AK, 3ABFK, 4AK, 4ABFK, 5AK, 5ABFK, NaMSXK, 13XBFK, NaYK, NaYBFK or SX6K), bead size range in millimeters, vessel charge weight and required moisture-barrier packaging.

Köstrolith® grade nomenclature: pore apertures (3A, 4A, 5A, 13X, NaY, SX6) and K vs. BFK beads

In CWK nomenclature, the suffix K (Kugeln) denotes conventional clay-bound spherical beads (~80% active zeolite), whereas the suffix BFK (Binder-Free Kugeln) denotes binder-free spherical beads in which the temporary binder has been hydrothermally converted into 100% active zeolite.

Potassium-exchanged Köstrolith 3AK and 3ABFK (~3 Å pore opening) selectively adsorb moisture without co-adsorbing olefins or alcohols; sodium-form Köstrolith 4AK and 4ABFK (~4 Å) provide universal dehydration for natural gas, compressed air, LPG and solvents; calcium-exchanged Köstrolith 5AK and

5ABFK (~5 Å) separate normal from iso-paraffins and purify hydrogen in PSA units.

Large-pore faujasite grades Köstrolith NaMSXK, 13XBFK, NaYK and NaYBFK (~9–10 Å) remove H2O, CO2, H2S and mercaptans in cryogenic air separation and hydrocarbon sweetening, while Köstrolith SX6K provides high N2/O2 selectivity for medical and industrial PSA/VPSA oxygen concentrators.

Engineering advantages of binder-free Köstrolith® BFK molecular sieves

By converting the clay binder entirely into active zeolite crystal structure, Köstrolith BFK grades (3ABFK, 4ABFK, 5ABFK, 13XBFK, NaYBFK) deliver 15–20% higher dynamic adsorption capacity and a well-defined transport macropore system that shortens the mass transfer zone (MTZ).

Eliminating inert clay binder removes catalytic acid sites, preventing olefin oligomerization, green oil formation, coking during high-temperature regeneration and carbonyl sulfide (COS) formation in natural gas and petrochemical streams.

Higher crush strength and lower attrition rates extend adsorbent bed service life under frequent thermal swing (TSA) and pressure swing (PSA) regeneration cycles.

Polyurethane moisture scavengers, insulating glass desiccants and factory thermal regeneration

Micronised activated Köstrolith powders are incorporated into 1K and 2K polyurethane coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE) to scavenge trace moisture from pigments and fillers, eliminating CO2 pinholes and foaming.

Specially calibrated low-deflection Köstrolith 3A beads are used in automated spacer-bar filling lines for insulating glass units (IGU) to prevent internal condensation and fogging over decades of service.

In addition to fresh zeolite production, CWK operates industrial rotary kilns in Bad Köstritz for thermal regeneration of spent molecular sieves and offers custom contract granulation of customer powders.

Quality management (ISO 9001 / 14001 / 50001) and moisture-tight export packaging

Manufactured in Germany under DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, DIN EN ISO 14001:2015 and DIN EN ISO 50001:2018 certified systems, every batch of Köstrolith molecular sieves is tested for residual moisture, crush strength, bulk density and equilibrium water adsorption capacity.

To prevent premature atmospheric moisture uptake during international transit, Köstrolith beads, pellets and powders are packed in hermetically sealed steel drums with PE liners or aluminium/PE barrier-lined FIBC big bags.

Pricing, minimum order quantities and lead times for CWK Köstrolith molecular sieves are calculated individually upon commercial request; public price lists are not published by the manufacturer, and batch CoA/SDS documents accompany each shipment.

We operate as an independent B2B supplier, not an authorized distributor of Chemiewerk Bad Köstritz GmbH.