The oxygen-producing adsorbents mainly relies on its selective adsorption to nitrogen and oxygen penetrating function. They’re mainly divided into calcium-based CaA and CaX, and lithium-based LiX. CaA and CaX adsorbents are based on traditional molecular sieves used in the 1980s, therefore the cost is lower, but the energy consumption of producing oxygen is higher, therefore, total loading is several times the amount of LiX. Judging from both the plot area of absorption tower or the long-term operation cost, CaA and CaX adsorbents have evident disadvantages, thus they are only used in small-scale pressure swing adsorption (PSA) operations with atmospheric desorption currently.

LiLSX molecular sieve (LiLSX) adsorbent for oxygen production with high lithium ion exchange rate is the best among LiX adsorbents. Its “nitrogen adsorption capacity” and “nitrogen & oxygen selectivity” are far superior to CaA and CaX oxygen production adsorbents. The higher oxygen yield LiX adsorbent has, the less its loading will be, and finally the operating loading of supporting power equipment will also be decreased accordingly. As a result, the direct investment and operating energy consumption can be reduced and the economic indicators of the oxygen plant can be increased. The first PU-8 high-efficiency lithium-based oxygen adsorbent with industrialized stable mass production in China at the earliest has won the first prize for the National Science and Technology Progress Award of the Ministry of Education.