Arrangement and Diffusive Mobility of Extraframework Species in the Hydrated Ammonium Forms of Zeolites Clinoptilolite and Chabazite

The location and diffusive mobility of ammonium ions and water molecules in the channels of the NH₄substituted forms of the natural zeolites clinoptilolite (NH₄)_6.5Al_6.5Si_29.5O₇₂] · 12.6H₂O and chabazite (NH₄)_9.6Ca_0.6Na_0.3Al_11.1Si_24.9O₇₂] · 25.8H₂O were studied by Xray diffraction analysis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The arrangement of the extraframework subsystem was shown to be largely determined by hydrogen bonds N—H...O(H₂O) of length 2.7–2.9 . The diffusive mobility of the ions was found to correspond to abnormally low energy barriers, similar to those for H₂O diffusion. The activation parameters for the diffusion jumps of the ions and molecules are E(NH₄) = E(H₂O) = 31(2) kJ/mole, ₀(NH₄) = 2 · 10¹¹ sec^-1, ₀(H₂O) = 4 · 10¹² sec^-1 in NH₄chabazite and E(NH₄) = E(H₂O) = 25(1) kJ/mole, ₀(NH₄) = 2 · 10¹⁰ sec^-1, ₀(H₂O) = 3 · 10¹¹ sec^-1 in NH₄clinoptilolite. It is suggested that the development of ion and molecular diffusion is caused by the same defects, whose formation with temperature rise is controlled by Hbond rearrangement.