Soluble starch as in-situ template to synthesize ZSM-5 zeolite with intracrystal mesopores

Abstract

ZSM-5 zeolite with intracrystal mesopores was synthesized via soluble starch as in-situ template. The pore structure of the samples is demonstrated by N2 adsorption, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The results show that the intracrystal mesopores are ascribed to the carbonized starch encapsulated in the ZSM-5 mesophase. The carbonized starch was removed through calcination, and then unordered mesopores are exposed. While the mesopores are unordered and the mesopore diameter is not uniform due to the different size of the assembling carbonized starch among ZSM-5 mesophase. Of note is that the mesopores exhibit good thermal and hydrothermal stability. The mesopore volume of the ZSM-5 treated at 800°C with flow of stream is almost unchanged compared to the untreated samples.