Modification of the structure and properties of SAPO-11 using rare earths

Silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO)-11 molecular sieve was modified by rare earth La and Ce using impregnating and ion-exchanging methods. The RE-modified SAPO-11 samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET), pore-size distribution (PSD), in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃-TPD), and compared with the unmodified SAPO-11 sample. The XRD patterns indicated that after RE modification, especially for the La-exchanged sample, the composition of molecular sieve was changed and the crystallinity decreased. The normalized surface area (NSA) of ion-exchanged samples proved that the unsubstituted metal oxides accumulated inside the SAPO-11 pores. Because of the RE cations that were loaded onto the surface of molecular sieve, which could be regarded as the Lewis acid sites, there was an increase in the amount of Lewis acid sites and a decrease in the Brønsted acid/Lewis acid (B/L) ratio. The ability of RE cations to acquire electrons was weaker than that of Al³⁺; therefore, the bond strength of bridged hydroxyl decreased after modification. The total acidity of SAPO-11 decreased after RE modification.