Molecular Sieve Beads 4A, Hydrocarbon Drying, 4x8 & 8x12 Mesh
ABOUT THIS PART
4A molecular sieve beads for drying butane, propane and other hydrocarbons. 100 lb drop shipped at $729.95 plus freight, 20 lb at $209.95 and 10 lb at $109.95 repacked in Bend, Oregon, and 8x12 mesh on clearance from $49.95.
Sizes and price
| Pack | Mesh | Price | How it ships |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 lb | 4x8 | $729.95 plus freight | Drop shipped from the plant, 3 to 5 days |
| 20 lb | 4x8 | $209.95 | Repacked in Bend, on reorder |
| 10 lb | 4x8 | $109.95 | Repacked in Bend, on reorder |
| 10 lb | 8x12 | $49.95, clearance | In stock in Bend, no more coming |
| 30 lb lot | 8x12 | $119.95, clearance | One lot, in stock in Bend, no more coming |
- Freight on the 100 lb is not in the $729.95. It is quoted per order at our actual freight cost plus 20 percent, to your address, before you pay. We do not type a figure from memory and we do not true it up on the invoice afterwards.
- The 100 lb ships direct from the plant on a 3 to 5 day lead, so it costs less per pound and it gets there sooner. If you run a system, that is the one to order.
- The 10 and 20 lb are repacked here and go out with the rest of your parts, usually the same day.
- The 4x8 repacks are out of stock on the shelf right now and on reorder. The page stays open so you can order, and the shop will give you the lead time. Call 541-330-6409 or email info@nboler.com.
- 4x8 is the larger bead and the one we stock and run on our own systems. Larger beads give lower pressure drop across the bed.
- 8x12 is the smaller bead. More surface area per pound, more pressure drop across the bed. It is here on clearance, it is not reordered, and when it is gone it is gone.
4A for hydrocarbons, 3A for ethanol
- This is a hard rule, not a preference. Pores of 4 angstroms and larger adsorb the ethanol molecule itself, so 4A on an ethanol system wastes your beads and your solvent at the same time.
- Drying ethanol instead? Buy the 3A beads.
- 5A suits neither. A 5 angstrom pore adsorbs n-butane and propane themselves, so it would strip the solvent out of your stream along with the water.
Charge, and when to change them
- 10 lb charges a 6 inch by 24 inch column, which is the sieve vessel on a 20 LB system.
- A 40 LB system runs a 6 inch by 48 inch vessel and takes more. Call rather than scaling it up, because we do not publish a figure we have not measured.
- Change them every week at minimum, and every two days when you are running wet material. Sieve life is set by the moisture in your starting material, not by the calendar.
- Water showing up in your extract is the symptom, and by the time you see it you are already past due.
- Run a 10 micron sintered disc on both sides of the bed. Beads shed dust, and dust downstream of the dryer ends up in your product.
Regeneration
- Heat under high vacuum between 125 C and 315 C (257 F and 599 F), or heat and purge with a carrier gas.
- Do not overshoot the top of that range. Excessive temperature decomposes the beads, and a decomposed bead does not come back.
- That range is from the N.B. Oler Hydrocarbon Operators Manual, Rev. 2026.1, section 8, Consumables. Background on pore sizes is in Molecular Sieves.
SPECIFICATIONS
▦ IN YOUR MANUAL
This part appears in the operator manual that ships with your system. The QR code there links to this page.
◈ REFERENCE FOR THIS PART
COMMON QUESTIONS
3A or 4A?
4A for hydrocarbons, 3A for ethanol. This is not a preference, it is a hard rule. Pores of 4 angstroms and larger adsorb the ethanol molecule itself, so 4A on an ethanol system wastes your beads and your solvent at the same time.
What does it cost?
100 lb 4x8 is $729.95 plus freight, drop shipped. 20 lb 4x8 is $209.95 and 10 lb 4x8 is $109.95, repacked in Bend. On clearance, 10 lb 8x12 is $49.95 and the 30 lb 8x12 lot is $119.95.
Is freight included in the 100 lb price?
No. Freight on the 100 lb is quoted per order at our actual freight cost plus 20 percent, to your address, before you pay. It is not estimated and it is not trued up on the invoice afterwards.
Why buy the 100 lb?
It drop ships direct from the plant on a 3 to 5 day lead, so it costs less per pound and it gets there sooner. It never comes to Bend and go out again. If you run a system, that is the one to order.
What is the difference between 4x8 and 8x12?
Bead size. 4x8 is the larger bead, which gives lower pressure drop across the bed, and it is what we stock and run on our own systems. 8x12 is smaller, with more surface area per pound and more pressure drop.
Is the 8x12 going to stay on the site?
No. The 8x12 is clearance stock, it is not reordered, and the page will stop selling it when it is gone. That is why it is set to stop rather than to keep taking orders.
What is the 30 lb lot?
The remaining 8x12 sold as one lot at $119.95 instead of by the pail. One order clears it.
How much do I need?
10 lb charges a 6 inch by 24 inch column, which is the sieve vessel on a 20 LB system. A 40 LB system runs a 6 inch by 48 inch vessel and takes more. Call us for that one rather than scaling it up, because we do not publish a figure we have not measured.
How often do I change them?
Every week at minimum, and every two days when you are running wet material. Sieve life is set by the moisture in your starting material, not by the calendar.
How do I know they are spent?
Water showing up in your extract. By the time you see it you are already past due, which is why the interval matters more than the inspection.
Can I regenerate them instead of replacing them?
Yes. Heat under high vacuum between 125 C and 315 C, which is 257 F to 599 F, or heat and purge with a carrier gas. Do not go over the top of that range. Excessive temperature decomposes the beads and a decomposed bead does not come back.
Do I need filters around the bed?
Yes, 10 micron sintered on both sides. Beads shed dust, and dust downstream of the dryer ends up in your product.
Can I use 5A?
No. A 5 angstrom pore adsorbs n-butane, propane and hydrocarbons from C3 to C22, so it would strip your solvent out of the stream along with the water.
Is the 4x8 in stock?
Not on the shelf right now. It is on reorder and the page stays open so you can order. Call 541-330-6409 and we will tell you the lead time.