Water vapor adsorption performance of hydrophobic zeolite bulks with mesopores and interconnected macropores

[Display omitted] •Zeolite bulk bodies were prepared using hydrophobic zeolite ZSM-5.•Three types of bulk bodies with different macropore structures were fabricated.•Pore structures were characterized by mercury porosimetry and direct observation.•Water adsorption/desorption isotherms of the hydrophobic zeolite bulks were measured.•The bulk bodies exhibited a moisture control function owing to mesopores. Humidity-controlled materials that maintain a comfortable indoor environment must have both high water–vapor-adsorption properties under high humidity and appropriate water–vapor-releasing properties with the relative humidity of 40%–70%. Such properties are often observed in mesoporous materials but are generally absent in microporous zeolites. Previously reported bulk zeolite bodies with mesopores and interconnected macropores were characterized using mercury porosity and water–vapor adsorption/desorption measurements. The bulk material comprised bottleneck-shaped pores and had a humidity-control function that was not exhibited by conventional zeolite materials. Therefore, bulk zeolites have demonstrated potential as excellent humidity-controlled materials with the function of volatile organic compounds removal owing to their micropores.