Adsorbent with hierarchical structure

2:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical layers are concentric.

3:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, comprising at least three hierarchical layers.

4:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical layers represent at least 30% of the entirety of layers of the adsorbent agglomerate.

5:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, wherein the inner region comprises an aggregate of adsorbent particles, in which aggregate no layer hierarchy of adsorbent particles is present.

6:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent agglomerate is substantially spherical.

7:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, wherein each adsorbent particle comprised in the hierarchical layers consists of a single adsorbent crystal or a single amorphous solid.

8:

• The adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1, wherein the adsorbent agglomerate is a zeolite adsorbent.

9:

• An adsorber comprising an adsorbent bed, said bed comprising a plurality of adsorbent agglomerates of claim 1.

10:

• The process for adsorptive separation of a gas mixture, using an adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1.

11:

• The process for adsorptive separation of a gas mixture, using an adsorber of claim 9.

12:

• The separation process of claim 1, wherein the process is an air separation process.

13:

• The use of an adsorbent agglomerate of claim 1 in processes for fractionating “n” and “iso” paraffins, fractionating xylenes, alcohols, in processes for purging hydrogen or helium.

14:

• The use of an adsorber of claim 9 in processes for fractionating “n” and “iso” paraffins, fractionating xylenes, alcohols, in processes for purging hydrogen or helium.

16:

• The manufacturing process of claim 13, wherein the agglomeration step is carried out by fluidization or by turntable.