Mechanism of CIT-6 and VPI-8 crystallization from zincosilicate gels

Highly efficient synthesis of zeolite chabazite using cooperative hydration-mismatched inorganic structure-directing agents

Chabazite (CHA type) zeolite is notoriously difficult to synthesize in the absence of organic structure-directing agents owing to long synthesis times and/or impurity formation. The ability to tailor organic-free syntheses of zeolites is additionally challenging due to the lack of molecular level understanding of zeolite nucleation and growth pathways, particularly the role of inorganic cations. In this study, we reveal that zeolite CHA can be synthesized using six different combinations of inorganic cations, including the first reported seed- and organic-free synthesis without the presence of potassium. We show that lithium, when present in small quantities, is an effective accelerant of CHA crystallization; and that ion pairings can markedly reduce synthesis times and temperatures, while expanding the design space of zeolite CHA formation in comparison to conventional methods utilizing potassium as the sole structure-directing agent. Herein, we posit the effects of cation pairings on zeolite CHA crystallization are related to their hydrated ionic radii. We also emphasize the broader implications for considering the solvated structure and cooperative role of inorganic cations in zeolite synthesis within the context of the reported findings for chabazite.

Impact of the Zn source on the RSN-type zeolite formation

RSN-type material has been prepared exclusively from Zn containing systems under the studied reaction conditions.

Catalysis by framework zinc in silica-based molecular sieves

Adjustable Zn Lewis acid site distributions in crystalline, microporous zincosilicates were studied spectroscopically and explored for catalytic applications.

Microporous and mesoporous zincosilicates (e.g., CIT-6, VPI-8, Zn-MFI, and Zn-MCM-41) synthesized in the presence of alkali cations contain two broad types of Zn sites: one that is a dication analog of the monocation ion-exchangeable Al-site in aluminosilicates, while the other resembles isolated Zn sites on amorphous silica. The ratio of these sites varies, depending on the synthesis conditions of the zincosilicate. Post-synthetic strategies based on ion-exchange can alter the site distribution towards either population. Furthermore, post-synthetic introduction of isolated Zn sites of the latter type is possible for materials possessing silanol nests. Both types of sites behave as Lewis acid centers in probe-molecule IR spectroscopy, but have very different catalytic properties. Due to the unusually high adsorption energies of Lewis bases on such materials, Lewis acid catalysis is difficult at low temperatures and in solvents bearing Lewis basic functionality. However, at high temperatures, in hydrocarbon solvents, CIT-6 (Zn-beta) is able to selectively catalyze the Lewis-acid-catalyzed Diels–Alder cycloaddition–dehydration reactions of ethylene with methyl 5-(methoxymethyl)furan-2-carboxylate, a furan that can be derived quantitatively by partial oxidation of biomass-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Additionally, zinc in silica-based molecular sieves is shown here to enable chemistries previously not accessible with framework Sn-, Ti- and Zr-based Lewis acid sites, e.g., the direct production of dimethyl terephthalate by Diels–Alder cycloaddition–dehydration reactions of ethylene and the dimethyl ester of furan-2,5-dicarboxilic acid.

Zeolite Synthesis Using Degradable Structure-Directing Agents and Pore-Filling Agents

Zeolites and molecular sieves are synthesized using organic structure-directing agents (SDAs) that have the potential to be degraded into fragments within the pore space so that they can be readily extracted at mild conditions. The zeolites and molecular sieves, VPI-8, ZSM-12, and ZSM-5, are synthesized using the ketal-containing SDA, 8,8-dimethyl-1,4-dioxa-8-azoniaspiro[4,5]decane (SDA-1). As expected, solids with unidimensional pore systems (VPI-8, ZSM-12) are much more difficult to process by this methodology than solids containing multidimensional pore systems (ZSM-5). Pore-filling agents (PFAs) such as isobutylamine and cyclopentylamine are used together with the ketal-containing SDA-1 to prepare ZSM-5. Extraction of the PFA is shown to be feasible, and its removal provides space for components to enter the zeolite micropores where they react with and cleave SDA-1. Removal of the cleavage fragments from SDA-1 gives ZSM-5 that has the appropriate pore volume, framework aluminum (measured by 27Al NMR), and catalytic behavior. Reasons for desiring this new type of zeolite synthesis method are enumerated.