A tool for predicting the integrity of Y zeolite crystalline structure

The purpose of this work was to employ the differential thermal analysis technique (DTA) to compare variations in the collapse energy of the Y zeolite crystalline structure in a fresh sample and in the sample after temperature treatment and impregnated with 3,000 ppm of vanadium and nickel. A small exothermic signal in the DTA curve at 950–1,150 °C indicated the collapse of the crystalline structure. The areas of the exothermic signals in the DTA curves of the samples indicated a 20% reduction in the exothermic area peak of sample treated 600 °C for 3 h and 25% reduction in same peak in the metal impregnated Y zeolite. These results were compared with X-ray data leading to the conclusion that metal impregnation affects the Y zeolite crystalline structure and that the DTA technique is a potentially useful tool for measuring the integrity of Y zeolite in catalysts.