State and properties of ion-exchanged cations in zeolites: 1. IR spectra and chemical activation of adsorbed molecular hydrogen

Adsorption isotherms and of adsorbed molecular hydrogen indicate that H₂ is weakly adsorbed by alkali-metal forms of faujasites, mordenite, and high-silica zeolite ZSM-5. The alkaline-earth forms of the same zeolites adsorb hydrogen somewhat more strongly; nevertheless, the hydrogen molecules adsorbed by the barium form of mordenite are in the hindered rotation state. Molecular hydrogen is most strongly adsorbed by the zinc and cadmium forms of the high-silica zeolite. In this case, molecular hydrogen is strongly polarized and undergoes heterolytic dissociative adsorption, yielding acidic hydroxyl groups and cation-bound hydride ions.