Removal of caffeine by selective adsorption using zeolite adsorbents

Claim 1

Process for removing caffeine from aqueous solutions which comprises contacting in the liquid phase at a temperature of not more than 100°C. an aqueous solution containing at least 0.01 weight percent caffeine dissolved therein with a crystalline zeolitic molecular sieve having a SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio of from 4.5 to 35, the essential X-ray powder diffraction pattern of zeolite Y, an ion-exchange capacity of not greater than 0.070, a unit cell dimension, a o , of from 24.20 to 24.45 Angstroms, a surface area of at least 350 m 2 /g., a sorptive capacity for water at 25°C. and a p/p o value of 0.10 of less than 5.00 weight percent, and a Residual Butanol Test value of not more than 0.40 weight percent, whereby caffeine is adsorbed on said zeolite, and thereafter isolating the said zeolite from said aqueous solution.