Synthesis of hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites with CTAB-containing seed silicalite-1 and its catalytic performance in methanol to propylene

Abstract

Hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites were synthesized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) containing silicalite-1 (S-1) as seed. The characterization results revealed that the CTAB/SiO2 ratio of 0.005–0.1 in S-1 created abundant intercrystal mesopores in ZSM-5 zeolites and resulted in less strong and weaker acid sites. The hierarchical ZSM-5 had a comparable catalytic performance in methanol to propylene (MTP) reaction with the zeolite synthesized by adding S-1 and CTAB directly in the precursor form as reported in the literature. However, in the present proposed method, the use of CTAB was greatly reduced. The very low-cost and facile method developed in this work is expected to be feasible for the synthesis of other zeolites.