Zeolite RHO Synthesis Accelerated by Ultrasonic Irradiation Treatment

Tiffany Yit Siew Ng,Thiam Leng Chew,Zeinab Abbas Jawad,Chii-Dong Ho,Yin Fong Yeong

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-51460-x

Tiffany Yit Siew Ng, Thiam Leng Chew + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-51460-x

Copy DOI

Abstract

In recent years, there are increasing interest on applying ultrasonic irradiation for the synthesis of zeolite due to its advantages including remarkable shortened synthesis duration. In this project, the potential of ultrasonic irradiation treatment on the synthesis of zeolite RHO was investigated. Ultrasonic irradiation treatment time was varied from 30 to 120 minutes for the synthesis of zeolite RHO. The zeolite RHO solid samples were characterized with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. The application of ultrasonic irradiation treatment in this study has accelerated the synthesis of zeolite RHO where the synthesis duration has been significantly shortened to 2 days compared to 8 days required by conventional hydrothermal heating without ultrasonic irradiation treatment. Highly crystalline zeolite RHO crystals in truncated octahedron morphology were successfully formed.

Highlights

In recent years, there are increasing interest on applying ultrasonic irradiation for the synthesis of zeolite due to its advantages including remarkable shortened synthesis duration
After 8 days of conventional hydrothermal heating without ultrasonic irradiation treatment for sample S1, the observed characteristic diffraction peaks of zeolite RHO particles with the respective 2θ angles at 8.3°, 16.6°, 18.6°, 25.1°, 26.4°, 30.2°, 32.5° and 35.7° displayed similar X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns with zeolite RHO reported in the literature, indicating highly crystalline zeolite RHO crystals have been successfully formed via conventional hydrothermal heating[25]
With the presence of ultrasonic irradiation treatment prior to hydrothermal heating, zeolite nuclei started to form at early synthesis time, implying an increase in zeolite nucleation rate which contributed to the shortened crystallization time for zeolite RHO synthesis[26]

Summary

Introduction

There are increasing interest on applying ultrasonic irradiation for the synthesis of zeolite due to its advantages including remarkable shortened synthesis duration.

Results

Conclusion