Molecular dynamics study of hydrated faujasite-type zeolites

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of hydrated zeolite NaX (Si/Al = 1.0) and NaY (Si/Al = 2.0) were done at a temperature of 300 K. The calculation results show that the adsorption of water occurs via a three-step mechanism in zeolite NaX: (1) adsorption around Na, (2) formation of a monolayer on the walls, and (3) pore filling in the supercage during which adsorbed water molecules are localized around the 12-membered rings. Zeolite NaY adsorbs in a similar manner. However, at intermediate hydration states, cluster formation occurs around Na instead of monolayer formation. The calculated energy distribution functions suggest that in zeolite NaX, the water vapor adsorption can be expressed by using the Langmuir model with two adsorption sites, but in zeolite NaY, it is not Langmuir-type adsorption.     

Synthesis of NaX and NaY Zeolites from Tunisian Kaolinite as Base Catalysts: An Investigation of Knoevenagel Condensation

The synthesis of Faujasite‐type zeolites with high purity has been successfully performed from Tunisian kaolinite and the effects of different crystallization parameters on the final products were widely investigated. The alkaline fusion of kaolinite followed by hydrothermal treatment lead to zeolite NaX synthesis whereas the classic hydrothermal transformation of metakaolinite produces NaY zeolite. The results show that an increase in the synthesis temperature and time has improved the crystallization process of the zeolite NaX whereas the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ and the Na₂O/SiO₂ molar ratios were the key parameters to obtain a pure zeolite NaY. The highest specific surface areas obtained with the optimal crystallization conditions were 554 m2 g^?1 and 592 m2 g^?1 for respectively NaX and NaY zeolites. The basic properties of NaX and NaY zeolites were explored in the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with ethyl cyanoacetate at 140 °C as a test reaction in the absence of solvent. The influence of ion exchange with cesium cation on the catalytic activity of prepared catalysts was also investigated. It was found that the NaX provided higher activity than that of NaY catalyst due to its lower Si/Al ratio whereas a cesium exchange conferred higher basicity to the prepared Na‐faujasite.     

(1)H relaxivity of water in aqueous suspensions of Gd(3+)-loaded NaY nanozeolites and AlTUD-1 mesoporous material: the influence of Si/Al ratio and pore size

The results of a (1)H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) and EPR study on aqueous suspensions of Gd(3+)-loaded NaY nanozeolites and AlTUD-1 mesoporous material are described. Upon increase of the Si/Al ratio from 1.7 to 4.0 in the Gd(3+)-loaded zeolites, the relaxation rate per mM Gd(3+) (r1) at 40 MHz and 25 degrees C increases from 14 to 27 s(-)1 mM(-1). The NMRD and EPR data were fitted with a previously developed two-step model that considers the system as a concentrated aqueous solution of Gd(3+) in the interior of the zeolite that is in exchange with the bulk water outside the zeolite. The results show that the observed increase in relaxivity can mainly be attributed to the residence lifetime of the water protons in the interior of the material, which decreased from 0.3 to 0.2 micros, upon the increase of the Si/Al ratio. This can be explained by the decreased interaction of water with the zeolite walls as a result of the increased hydrophobicity. The importance of the exchange rate of water between the inside and the outside of the material was further demonstrated by the relatively high relaxivity (33 s(-1) mM(-1) at 40 MHz, 25 degrees C) observed for a suspension of the Gd(3+)-loaded mesoporous material AlTUD-1. Unfortunately, Gd(3+) leaches rather easily from that material, but not from the Gd(3+)-loaded NaY zeolites, which may have potential as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.     

29Si-NMR-Untersuchungen zur Verteilung der Silicium-und Aluminiumatome im Alumosilicatgitter von Zeolithen mit Faujasit-Struktur

²⁹SiNMR Investigation of Silicon-Aluminum Ordering in the Aluminosilicate Framework of Faujasite-Type Zeolites The high resolution magic angle spinning ²⁹Si NMR spectra of a series of NaX and NaY zeolites with Si/Al ratios of 1.18 to 67 exhibit up to five sharp signals which could be assigned to the central silicon atoms of Si(OSi)_4–n(OAl)_n building units (n = 0–4) of the aluminosilicate framework. From the signal intensities the quantitative distribution of the building units and the Si/Al ratio of the aluminosilicate lattice have been estimated. By comparison of the building units obtained from the ²⁹Si NMR spectra with those from theoretical model structures detailed information on silicon-aluminum ordering of the zeolite framework has been derived. Except for NaX of Si/Al = 1.4 a centrosymmetrical distribution of Si and Al atoms within a double-cubooctahedra unit has been found which agrees well with the Si/Al ordering scheme proposed by Dempsey.     

Hydrothermal Stability of the Novel Zeolite Type LSX in Comparison to the Traditional 13X Modification

Ion‐exchanged LSX (Si/Al = 1.02) and 13X (Si/Al = 1.18) zeolite series (Li, Na, K, Rb, Ca, Sr, Ba exchanged) were hydrothermally treated at temperatures between 423 K and 513 K in liquid water under autogeneous water vapour pressure. Beside X‐ray powder diffraction, the molybdate method and the water sorption uptake have been used to characterize the treated samples. The LSX and 13X zeolites show a similar hydrothermal behaviour in spite of their different framework Si/Al ratios depending only on the type of introduced cations. Significant destabilizing effects were observed especially in presence of K and Rb cations as well as the bivalent Sr and Ba cations. The LSX zeolites are hydrothermally more stable than LTA zeolites of same cations despite their same chemical framework composition.     

Unexpected Si:Al effect on the binary mixtures liquid phase adsorption selectivities in faujasite zeolites

A batch technique was applied to determine the equilibrium adsorption of benzene from its benzene/octane and benzene/octene mixture on NaX (Si:Al 1.20) and NaY (Si:Al 2.79) in liquid phase. Benzene was preferentially adsorbed from both mixtures on NaX and NaY. Regardless whether octane or octene was present in the binary mixture, benzene was adsorbed more selectively on the high-silica NaY compared to NaX, which contained more cations. The presence of cations on the SIII/SIII' site inside the supercages of NaX causes a more difficult hosting of benzene inside the supercages of NaX and especially on the 12-membered ring site. However, at sufficiently high external benzene concentration (>10 mol %), the 12-membered ring site of NaX will be occupied by benzene, leading to a maximum adsorption capacity of five benzenes per supercage on both NaX and NaY. The double bond present inside octene allows the molecules to compete for the adsorption sites with benzene. The competitive effect of octene prevents the fifth benzene molecule to adsorb in the NaX supercage within the investigated concentration range.     

In situ SAXS/WAXS of zeolite microwave synthesis: NaY, NaA, and beta zeolites.

A custom waveguide apparatus is constructed to study the microwave synthesis of zeolites by in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The WR-284 waveguide is used to heat precursor solutions using microwaves at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The reaction vessels are designed to include sections of thin-walled glass, which permit X-rays to pass through the precursor solutions with minimal attenuation. Slots were machined into the waveguide to provide windows for X-ray energy to enter and scatter from solutions during microwave heating. The synthesis of zeolites with conventional heating is also studied using X-ray scattering in the same reactor. SAXS studies show that the crystallization of beta zeolite and NaY zeolite is preceded by a reorganization of nanosized particles in their precursor solutions or gels. The evolution of these particles during the nucleation and crystallization stages of zeolite formation depends on the properties of the precursor solution. The synthesis of NaA and NaX zeolites and sodalite from a single zeolite precursor is studied by microwave and conventional heating. Microwave heating shifts the selectivity of this synthesis in favor of NaA and NaX over sodalite; conventional heating leads to the formation of sodalite for synthesis from the same precursor. The use of microwave heating also led to a more rapid onset of NaA zeolite product crystallization compared to conventional heating. Pulsed and continuous microwave heating are compared for zeolite synthesis. The resulting rates of formation of the zeolite products, and the relative amounts of the products determined from the WAXS spectra, are similar when either pulsed or continuous microwave heating is applied in the reactor while maintaining the same synthesis temperature. The consequences of these results in terms of zeolite synthesis are discussed.     

Distribution of Europium Ions in Ion-Exchanged NaX and NaY Zeolites

The chemical environments of europium-exchanged NaX (Si/Al =1.16) and NaY (Si/Al = 2.29) zeolites have been investigated by means of ¹²⁹Xe NMR and isotherm measurements of adsorbed xenon. EuNaX and EuNaY samples with varied concentrations of Eu cations were subjected to diverse chemical and thermal treatments, namely dehydration, reduction, oxidation, and re-reduction. Thermal analyses of hydrated EuNaX and EuNaY samples indicate that both the structural stability and the saturation concentration of water increase with increasing Eu content. For dehydrated EuNaY zeolites, the Eu³⁺ cations tend to replace Na⁺ ions at S2 sites and tend to be located in framework supercages; similar behavior is found for Eu²⁺ ions after reduction. After subsequent oxidation, Eu³⁺ ions migrate from supercages into small sodalite and/or D6R cages; similar results were deduced for samples after re-reduction. In contrast to the behavior observed in EuNaY, Eu³⁺ ions tend to exchange for Na⁺ ions in the sodalite and/or D6R cages in dehydrated EuNaX zeolites, regardless of the thermal treatment; this behavior is ascribed to the existence of unlocalized S3 Na⁺ in EuNaX samples.     

Selective methane chlorination to methyl chloride by zeolite Y-based catalysts

The CH₄ chlorination over Y zeolites was investigated to produce CH₃Cl in a high yield. Three different catalytic systems based on Y zeolite were tested for enhancement of CH₄ conversion and CH₃Cl selectivity: (i) HY zeolites in H⁺-form having various Si/Al ratios, (ii) Pt/HY zeolites supporting Pt metal nanoparticles, (iii) Pt/NaY zeolites in Na⁺-form supporting Pt metal nanoparticles. The reaction was carried out using the gas mixture of CH₄ and Cl₂ with the respective flow rates of 15 and 10 mL min⁻¹ at 300–350 °C using a fixed-bed reactor under a continuous gas flow condition (gas hourly space velocity = 3000 mL g⁻¹ h⁻¹). Above the reaction temperature of 300 °C, the CH₄ chlorination is spontaneous even in the absence of catalyst, achieving 23.6% of CH₄ conversion with 73.4% of CH₃Cl selectivity. Under sufficient supplement of thermal energy, Cl₂ molecules can be dissociated to two chlorine radicals, which triggered the C-H bond activation of CH₄ molecule and thereby various chlorinated methane products (i.e., CH₃Cl, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, CCl₄) could be produced. When the catalysts were used under the same reaction condition, enhancement in the CH₄ conversion was observed. The Pt-free HY zeolite series with varied Si/Al ratios gave around 27% of CH₄ conversion, but there was a slight decrease in CH₃Cl selectivity with about 64%. Despite the difference in acidity of HY zeolites having different Si/Al ratios, no prominent effect of the Si/Al ratios on the catalytic performance was observed. This suggests that the catalytic contribution of HY zeolites under the present reaction condition is not strong enough to overcome the spontaneous CH₄ chlorination. When the Pt/HY zeolite catalysts were used, the CH₄ conversion reached further up to 30% but the CH₃Cl selectivity decreased to 60%. Such an enhancement of CH₄ conversion could be attributed to the strong catalytic activity of HY and Pt/HY zeolite catalysts. However, both catalysts induced the radical cleavage of Cl₂ more favorably, which ultimately decreased the CH₃Cl selectivity. Such trade-off relationship between CH₄ conversion and CH₃Cl selectivity can be slightly broken by using Pt/NaY zeolite catalyst that is known to possess Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLP) that are very useful for ionic cleavage of H₂ to H⁺ and H⁻. Similarly, in the present work, Pt/NaY(FLP) catalysts enhanced the CH₄ conversion while keeping the CH₃Cl selectivity as compared to the Pt/HY zeolite catalysts.     

Electron trapping in polar-solvated zeolites

Of current interest in our laboratory is the nature of photoinduced processes in the cavities of zeolites completely submerged in polar solvents, or polar-solvated zeolites (PSZ). The present study addresses the nature of electron trapping in PSZ with emphasis on the zeolites NaX and NaY. Free electrons were generated by two-photon, pulsed-laser excitation of either pyrene or naphthalene included in zeolite cavities. Trapped electrons were monitored by diffuse transmittance, transient absorption spectroscopy at visible wavelengths. In anhydrous alcohols, electron trapping by Na(4)(4+) ion clusters was observed in both NaX and NaY. The resulting trapped electrons decayed over the course of tens of milliseconds. No evidence for alcohol-solvated electrons was found. More varied results were observed in solvents containing water. In NaX submerged in CH(3)OH containing 5% or higher water, species having microsecond lifetimes characteristic of solvated electrons were observed. By contrast, a 2 h exposure of NaY to 95/5 CH(3)OH/H(2)O had no effect on electron trapping relative to anhydrous CH(3)OH. The difference between NaX and NaY was explained by how fast water migrates into the sodalite cage. Prolonged exposure to water at room temperature or exposure to water at elevated temperatures was necessary to place water in the sodalite cages of NaY and deactivate Na(4)(4+) as an electron trap. Additional studies in NaY revealed that solvent clusters eventually become lower energy traps than Na(4)(4+) as the water content in methanol increases. In acetonitrile-water mixtures, electron trapping by Na(4)(4+) was eliminated and no equivalent species characteristic of solvated electrons in methanol-water mixtures was observed. This result was explained by the formation of low energy solvated electrons which cannot be observed in the visible region of the spectrum. Measurements of the rate of O(2) quenching in anhydrous solvents revealed rate constants for the quenching of ion cluster trapped electrons that were 2-4 times higher than that for pyrene triplets. In NaX, the rate constant in methanol was 10(4) times smaller than that in cyclohexane, showing greater inhibition of O(2) reactivity in the medium of PSZ. The results of this study point out the conditions under which Na(4)(4+) is active as an electron trap in PSZ and that water must be present in the sodalite cage to produce solvated electrons in the supercage.     

Interaction of molecular nitrogen and oxygen with extraframework cations in zeolites with double six-membered rings of oxygen-bridged silicon and aluminum atoms: a DFT study

The interaction of N(2) and O(2) with extraframework cations of zeolite frameworks was studied by DFT, using the B3LYP method. The extraframework cation sites located in the vicinity of the double six-member rings (D6R) of FAU zeolites (SI, SI', SIII') were considered and clusters with composition (M(n)(+))(2/)(n)()H(12)Si(10)Al(2)O(18), M = Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), were selected to represent the adsorption centers. The cation sites SII in the center of single six-membered rings (S6R) were modeled by [M(I)H(12)Si(4)Al(2)O(6)](-) and M(II)H(12)Si(4)Al(2)O(6) clusters. The adsorption energy of N(2) and O(2) is the highest for Li(+) cations at the SIII' cation sites, while for the SI' and SII sites the adsorption energies decrease in the order Ca(2+) > Na(+) > Li(+). The calculated small N(2) adsorption energy for Li(+) cations at SII sites suggests that these sites do not take part in the sorption process in agreement with results of NMR studies and Monte Carlo simulations. The N(2) adsorption complexes with the extraframework cations are linear, while those of O(2) are bent regardless of the extraframework cation location. The SIII' cation sites are the most favorable ones with respect to N(2) adsorption capacity and N(2)/O(2) selectivity; the SII sites are less selective and the SI sites are not accessible.     

On the nature of gallium species in gallium-modified mordenite and MFI zeolites. A comparative DRIFT study of carbon monoxide adsorption and hydrogen dissociation

The results of a DRIFT study of carbon monoxide molecular adsorption and hydrogen dissociative adsorption on gallium-modified mordenite and MFI (ZSM-5) zeolites are presented. It was found that in the reduced gallium-modified mordenite (Ga-MOR) both Ga(3+) and Ga(+) exchanged cations are present and can be detected by CO adsorption. Ga(3+) cations in Ga-MOR dissociatively adsorb molecular hydrogen at elevated temperatures, resulting in the formation of gallium hydride species and acidic hydroxyl groups. In the reduced Ga-MFI evacuated at 823 K under medium vacuum conditions only Ga(+) exchanged intrazeolite cations were detected. It was found, however, that Ga(3+) intrazeolite exchanged cations which form upon high-temperature disproportionation of Ga(+) cations in the reduced Ga-MFI and Ga-MOR can be stabilized by high-temperature oxidation of these zeolites.     

EPR and DFT study on the stabilization of radiation-generated methyl radicals in dehydrated Na-A zeolite

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was applied to study paramagnetic species stabilized in Na-A zeolite exposed to gaseous methane and gamma-irradiated at 77 K. Two types of EPR spectra were recorded during thermal annealing of zeolite up to room temperature. Owing to the results for the zeolite exposed to (13)CH(4) the multiplet observed at 110 K was assigned to a (.-)CH(3)...Na(+) complex. After decay of the multiplet, the isotropic quartet of methyl radical was recorded in the temperature range of 170-280 K. On the basis of the EPR parameters it is postulated that (.-)CH(3) radicals in this temperature region are able to freely rotate inside the zeolite cage. The structures of the (.-)CH(3)...Na(+) adsorption complex and respective hyperfine coupling constants were calculated by applying DFT quantum chemical methods. Two different models were applied to represent the zeolite framework: the 6T structure of one six-membered ring and the 3T cluster. The hyperfine coupling constants calculated for the (.-)CH(3)...Na(+) adsorption complex for both applied models show very good agreement with those obtained experimentally.     

Synthesis of isoamyl acetate usin NaX and NaY zeolites as catalysts

A liquid phase esterification reaction between glacial acetic acid and isoamyl alcohol has been studied using NaX and NaY zeolites as catalysts. The influence of calcination temperature, the amount of catalysts, reaction temperature, time of esterification and the molar ratio of the reactants has been investigated. Water insoluble products have been isolated from the reaction mixture and analyzed for the ester. Both NaX and NaY are found to be active as catalysts in the reaction. However, their catalytic activity varies with the reaction conditions and their calcination temperature. The reaction has been found to be 100% selective to ester formation. Catalytic activity of the zeolites has been correlated with their surface acidity.     

高温合成NaY沸石

提出了应用NaY沸石导向剂提供全部硅源合成NaY沸石的新方法, 研究了高温条件下合成NaY沸石的规律和特点, 发现在高温条件下合成NaY沸石不仅晶化速度快, 而且可以在不加有机物的条件下合成较高硅铝比[n(SiO2)/n(Al2O3)=6]的NaY沸石.     

A comparative FT-IR spectroscopic study of methanethiol and methanol adsorption on sodium X and Y zeolites

Adsorption of CH₃SH and CH₃OH on activated NaX and NaY zeolites has been studied by IR spectroscopy. Only NaX is able to provoke the dissociative adsorption of CH₃SH at room temperature and that of CH₃OH at 623 K. Results are discussed taking into account sodium cations in the S_III position.     

微波诱导快速合成纳米NaY分子筛

报导了一种在常压回流微波加热条件下,可使合成的NaY分子筛晶粒尺寸减小至100 nm以下的方法.添加柠檬酸的晶化速率接近添加稀土离子的晶化速率,合成60 min后两者得到的NaY分子筛的晶粒度和硅铝比接近,约为40 nm和5.2,晶粒度小且硅铝比高于在相同条件下没有添加合成得到的NaY分子筛.微波合成的NaY分子筛的晶粒度明显小于常规相同配比所得样品的晶粒度且晶化时间明显缩短,充分证明了微波加热快速均匀且能够得到较小晶粒度的特点.     

FTIR studies of zeolite matrix effects on the properties of palladium clusters confined in the supercages of NaX and NaY

Palladium clusters have been synthesized by the "ship-in-a-bottle" approach in the supercages of NaX and NaY faujasite zeolites. In comparison with CO adsorbed on a bulk Pd electrode, the same molecule adsorbed on the Pd clusters electrodes evoked an enhanced IR absorption (EIRA). The enhancement factors have been determined to be about 38 and 51 in NaX and NaY, respectively. IR band centers of linear-bonded CO, bridge-bonded CO, and multi-bonded CO in NaX are measured, respectively, 12, 14, and 11 cm(-1) lower than those of the corresponding adsorption modes in NaY. The adsorption of CO and the oxidation of adsorbed CO in NaX matrix are faster than that in NaY matrix. These results suggest that part of the Pd2+ ions in NaX are located in sites III and III' that are near the 12-ring window of the supercage of zeolite, which lead to the formation of small Pd clusters. The present study is of significant importance in exploring the dependence of catalyst properties on structures, as well as in understanding and predicting the locations and properties of metal clusters in zeolites.     

CXN天然沸石的研究 VI. 耐酸性及不同阳离子型沸石结构的热稳定性

以X射线粉末衍射(XRD)结晶度测定法观测CXN (STI型)天然沸石在不同浓度盐酸(HCl)热溶液中的结构耐酸性, 以及比较和研究用不同方法制备的结构超稳化高硅H-STI-I和H-STI-II沸石及其不同阳离子交换型M-STI (M＝Li, Na, K, Ca, Ag) 系列沸石在程序阶梯升温过程中的结构热稳定性. 用X射线荧光散射(XRF), ²⁹Si与²⁷Al固体核磁共振(MAS NMR)表征超稳化高硅H型沸石的组成与结构性质. 结果表明该天然沸石在浓度低于2 mol/L盐酸中可较长时间保持结构完美. 视阳离子类型不同, 经1173 K焙烧后M-STI-I系列沸石与M-STI-II系列沸石相对结晶度降低百分数分别为2.5%～18% 与0～35%. 在M-STI-I系列沸石中, 焙烧前后相对结晶度下降幅度的次序为K型＜(H, Li, Na)型＜(Ca, Ag)型, 而M-STI-II系列沸石, (Na, K)型＜(Li, H, Ca)型＜Ag型. 从沸石骨架硅铝比、结构缺陷、阳离子种类及其氧化物形成热等方面讨论影响沸石结构热稳定性的因素.     

Hydrogen storage in low silica type X zeolites

Low silica type X zeolites (LSX, Si/Al = 1) fully exchanged by alkali-metal cations (Li(+), Na(+), and K(+)) were studied for their hydrogen storage capacities. Hydrogen adsorption isotherms were measured separately at 77 K and <1 atm, and at 298 K and <10 MPa. It was found that the hydrogen adsorption capacity of LSX zeolite depended strongly on the cationic radius and the density of the cations that are located on the exposed sites. The interaction energies between H(2) and the cations follow the order Li(+) > Na(+) > K(+), as predicted based on the ionic radii. Oxygen anions on zeolite framework were minor adsorption sites. Li-LSX had an H(2) capacity of 1.5 wt % at 77 K and 1 atm, and a capacity of 0.6 wt % at 298 K and 10 MPa, among the highest of known sorbents. The hydrogen capacity in LSX zeolite by bridged hydrogen spillover was also investigated. A simple and effective technique was employed to build carbon bridges between the H(2) dissociation catalyst and the zeolite to facilitate spillover of hydrogen atoms. Thus, the hydrogen storage capacity of Li-LSX zeolite was enhanced to 1.6 wt % (by a factor of 2.6) at 298 K and 10 MPa. This is by far the highest hydrogen storage capacity obtained on a zeolite material at room temperature. Furthermore, the adsorption rates were fast, and the storages were shown to be fully reversible and rechargeable. Further optimization of the bridge building technique would lead to an additional enhancement of hydrogen storage.