Mordenite Zeolite Research Articles

Ion-exchange of copper into mordenite and clinoptilolite zeolites by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental investigations

Copper-exchanged zeolites have been subjected to several investigations because of their application as selective redox-active catalysts, and sensors. However, the ability of different types of zeolites to exchange Cu ions remains a matter of debate. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) methods have been used to evaluate the exchange of Cu(II) in mordenite and clinoptilolite zeolites using an aqueous method in the current study. Several parameters of copper ions have been measured for both types of zeolites, such as ion exchange ratio, mean square displacement (MSD), diffusion coefficient, and radial distribution function (RDF). These parameters were calculated for each zeolite system at different Cu ion concentrations in the feed solution. Copper exchange ratio and RDF analyses revealed a higher exchange ratio of copper ions in the mordenite framework. Analysis of the potential energy indicates the major adsorption sites for mordenite and clinoptilolite, which are located in the largest cavities of the zeolites. The adsorption energy of the mordenite sites (1.52 eV) was larger than that of clinoptilolite (1.28 eV). The stronger attraction between the copper ions and mordenite sites is consistent with the lower diffusion coefficients of the ions in this zeolite. The ion-exchange abilities of the zeolites were examined using EDS analysis. According to the EDS results, the mordenite zeolite exchanged more copper ions than the clinoptilolite, which is in agreement with the computational results.

MOR-to-MFI interzeolite transformations: Tuning of paired sites content towards the development of efficient MTH catalyst

Interzeolite transformation is a rapidly developing method of zeolite synthesis, which allows a precise design of the active site structure. We report on the application of MOR to MFI interzeolite transformation (IZT) for the preparation of MFI zeolite with variable content of paired sites and the elucidation of their role in the MTH reaction. IZT procedure involved hydrothermal treatment of the reaction mixture containing mordenite zeolite as a source of silica and alumina, alkali, TPAOH, TPABr and water. Tuning of paired sites was achieved by variation of the content of water and alkali in the reaction mixture and the application of seeding. The results demonstrate that IZT procedure allows to tune paired sites content within 10–65 % without affecting other characteristics of MFI products, such as Si/Al ratio, crystal size, texture, acid sites type, content and strength, as well as the amount of EFAL species and the distribution of aluminum between channels and intersections of the MFI structure. The evaluation of MOR-to-MFI zeolites with different paired sites content in the MTH reaction pointed to significant effect of paired sites on the stability of catalytic activity with time on stream and on the propylene/ethylene selectivity.

Investigating the deposition of fibrous zeolite particles on leaf surfaces: A novel low-cost method for detecting the presence of airborne hazardous mineral fibers

Naturally occurring fibrous minerals, such as erionite, can pose a significant threat to human health when disturbed and subsequently respired. Understanding the spatial abundance and characteristics of these hazardous fibrous minerals in ambient air is crucial for minimizing human exposure and assessing risk. Conventional detection methods for airborne hazardous mineral fibers, such as those developed for asbestos, are of limited utility in environmental settings where fiber concentrations are low and different fiber types may be present and can be costly especially when monitoring large areas over long periods of time. This study presents an innovative methodology for detecting and identifying the presence of airborne naturally occurring fibrous zeolites, using leaf surface deposition sampling, SEM-EDX analysis for the detection and assessment of elemental composition, and TEM-SAED with continuous rotation diffraction (MicroED) to determine their crystallographic unit cell parameters. In total, 309 fibrous zeolite particles (FZPs) were identified on a range of tree leaf surfaces across 80% of the sampling sites located close to both active and disused zeolite quarries in the Taupo Volcanic Region, New Zealand. The FZPs displayed various morphologies including aggregates, bundles, and fibril-like structures. Of the FZPs detected, 91.2% were < 5µm in length. Tetrahedral Si:(Si+Al) ratio results indicated that 40% of the FZPs were in the reference range for zeolite mordenite. TEM-SAED plus MicroED analysis resulted in 61% of tested FZPs indexed to unit cell parameters that matched with mordenite. This research demonstrates the potential of leaf sampling as a cost-effective method for detecting airborne FZPs while the MicroED data can be utilized for distinguishing between different types of airborne fibrous zeolites in ambient air.

Tailor-made the ultrathin nanosheet and acid site accessibility of mordenite zeolite for carbonylation of dimethyl ether

Precisely tailored nano-morphology and crystal growth endures mordenite (MOR) zeolites with reduced internal diffusion resistance, enabling greater accessibility of existing acid sites to further stimulate catalysis. Controllable synthesis nanosheet MOR zeolite thinner than 20 nm along at least one dimension is highly attractive but remains great challenge. Herein, c axis along the [001] direction shortened MOR nanosheets with a thickness of 10–20 nm was synthesized. As expected, the mass transfer performance over the nanosheet sample is significantly improved by 2.5 times compared with the conventional nano-morphology. Furthermore, more Brønsted acid sites (BAS) can be induced into 8-membered ring (8-MR) pores in the nanosheet MOR zeolite. The conversion of dimethyl ether (DME) to methyl acetate over the ultrathin MOR zeolite is increased from 17.4 % to 71.7 % compared to that of the conventional nanoparticle. The DME conversion was stable at 70.0 % after reaction 80 h, when the acid sites located in 12-membered ring pores was poisoned by the pyridine molecule. Unexpectedly, we discovered that the desorption behavior of pyridine is also influenced by the accessibility of acid site, not only by the amount of BAS in 8-MR. The unique nanosheet structure with short c axis reduces the spatial stability of pyridine adsorbed on BAS in the 8-MR side pocket and the BAS in the 8-MR side pocket can be recovered at lower temperatures. Herein, a new insight into of DME carbonylation catalyzed by ultrathin nanosheet of MOR zeolite is revealed.

Confinement-Driven Dimethyl Ether Carbonylation in Mordenite Zeolite as an Ultramicroscopic Reactor.

ConspectusThe conversion of C1 molecules to methyl acetate through the carbonylation of dimethyl ether in mordenite zeolite is an appealing reaction and a crucial step in the industrial coal-to-ethanol process. Mordenite zeolite has large 12-membered-ring (12MR) channels (7.0 × 6.5 Å2) and small 8MR channels (5.7 × 2.6 Å2) connected by a side pocket (4.8 × 3.4 Å2), and this unique pore architecture supplies its high catalytic activity to the key step of carbonylation. However, the reaction mechanism of carbonylation in mordenite zeolite is not thoroughly established in that it is able to explain all experimental phenomena and improve its industrial applications, and the classical potential energy surface exerted by static density function theory calculations cannot reflect the reaction kinetics under realistic conditions because the diffusion kinetics of bulk DME (kinetic dimeter: 4.5 Å) and methyl acetate (MA, kinetic dimeter: 5.5 Å) were not well considered and their restricted diffusion in the narrow side pocket and 8MR channels may greatly alter the integrated kinetics of DME carbonylation in mordenite zeolite. Moreover, the precise illustration of the dynamic behaviors of the ketene intermediate and its derivatives (surface acetate and acylium ion) confined within various voids in mordenite has not been effectively portrayed.Advanced ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations with or without the acceleration of enhanced sampling methods provide tremendous opportunities for operando modeling of both reaction and diffusion processes and further identify the geometrical structure and chemical properties of the reactants, intermediates, and products in the different confined voids of mordenite under realistic reaction conditions, which enables high consistency between computations and experiments.In this Account, the carbonylation process in mordenite is comprehensively described by the results of decades of continuous research and newly acquired knowledge from both multiscale simulations and in-(ex-)situ spectroscopic experiments. Three primary steps (DME demethylation to surface methoxy species (SMS), carbon-carbon bond coupling between SMS and CO to acetyl species, and methyl acetate formation by acetyl species and methanol/DME) have been respectively studied with a careful consideration of different molecular factors (reactant distribution, concentration, and attack mode). By utilizing the free-energy surface of diffusion and reaction obtained from AIMD simulations, a comprehensive reaction/diffusion kinetic model was formulated for the first time, illustrating the entire zeolite catalytic process. In this context, a comprehensive and informative analysis of the reaction kinetics of carbonylation in mordenite, including the function of the 12MR channels, 8MR channels, and side pockets in the adsorption, diffusion, and reaction of DME carbonylation, was performed. The different channels of mordenite play different roles in all ordered reaction steps, illustrating a highly organized ultramicroscopic reactor that is encompassed.

Multicomponent Equilibrium Isotherms and Kinetics Study of Heavy Metals Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Electrocoagulation Combined with Mordenite Zeolite and Ultrasonication

Multicomponent Equilibrium Isotherms and Kinetics Study of Heavy Metals Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Electrocoagulation Combined with Mordenite Zeolite and Ultrasonication

Structural insight into palladium-nickel clusters over mordenite zeolite for carbene-insertion reaction

The advancement of heterogeneous catalysts incorporating metal clusters in the nanometric size range has garnered significant attention due to their extraordinary catalytic activity and selectivity. The detailed characterization and understanding of the atomic structure of these metal clusters within catalysts is crucial for elucidating the underlying reaction mechanisms. In the present study, a distinctive three-atom PdNi cluster, characterized by two Pd atoms at terminal positions and a central Ni atom, was synthesized over mordenite zeolite. The presence of atomic PdNi clusters within the eight-membered ring side pocket area was confirmed by multiple advanced analytical techniques, including magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic activity of the confined active species was examined by the carbene-mediated reactions of ethyl-2-diazoacetate to ethyl-2-methoxyacetate as a model reaction. Compared to the Pd-mordenite and Ni-mordenite, the PdNi-mordenite catalyst incorporates a PdNi cluster, which demonstrates a superior performance, achieving 100% conversion and high selectivity under the same reaction conditions. Our study elucidates the potential of constructing bimetallic clusters in zeolites, providing valuable insights for developing new heterogeneous catalysts applicable to a wide range of catalytic processes.

Confinement driving mechanism of surface methoxy species formation in mordenite zeolite: An interplay of different molecular factors

Surface methoxy species (SMS) are key intermediates in methanol conversion within zeolites. We propose a reaction mechanism for SMS formation using methanol or dimethyl ether in mordenite zeolites, based on ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations and validated by in situ experiments. Key factors such as adsorption, diffusion, distribution, and attacking modes of reactants were considered. The forward attacking mode of both methanol and dimethyl ether on the acid site is more feasible for SMS formation than the backward mode in the 8 member-ring of mordenite (MOR-8MR). For methanol, two end-to-end molecules in MOR-8MR promote SMS formation via a stepwise pathway, avoiding the rotation of protonated methanol, while two methanol molecules on different sides of acid site hinder SMS formation. Dimethyl ether, however, converts to SMS in MOR-8MR regardless of concentration and distribution. The kinetics align with in situ Fourier transform infrared experiments and are confirmed by two-dimensional correlation analysis of methanol dehydration.

Counteractive catalytic effects of FeNi- versus Fe- and Ni- in plastic pyrolysis for advanced-quality jet fuel production

It is promising to produce jet fuel through catalytic pyrolysis of plastic to alleviate the fossil depletion and environmental pollution. Hence, it is important to improve the catalyst and catalytic parameters for the process. This study evaluated the performance of plastic pyrolysis using catalysts loaded with Fe-, Ni-, and FeNi-. The FeNi/Y (Fe and Ni loaded on Y zeolite) catalyst stood out, delivering a high oil yield rate of 64.0 wt%. The obtained oil was abundant in alkanes (38.21 area%) and monocyclic aromatics (35.40 area%) and low in alkenes (13.12 area%), which were optimal for jet fuel production. Various supports were then screened, including four zeolites (Beta zeolite, Y zeolite, Mordenite zeolite, and Zeolite Socony Mobil-5) and activated carbon, with FeNi/Y demonstrating superior performance in both oil yield and quality. Among different pyrolysis temperatures (450, 500, 550, 600, and 650 °C), 550 °C was found to be the ideal temperature for a maximum oil yield. The stable oil yield rate observed during catalyst regeneration experiments confirmed the potential of FeNi/Y for jet fuel production. The research also revealed a significant contrast in catalytic effects between FeNi- and single Fe- or Ni- catalysts. FeNi- favorably cyclized and hydrogenated alkenes, while Fe- and Ni- mainly decyclized monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This difference may be attributed to their hydride ion abstraction capability, a trait absent in FeNi.

Adsorption studies on synthetic lentil-like mordenite for column and batch removal of cadmium and lead ions: investigating isotherms and kinetics

ABSTRACT The mordenite zeolite adsorbent, with a lentil-like structure, was synthesised using a one-step green hydrothermal method. Its textural, structural, and morphological properties were characterised through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method. The prepared adsorbent was employed in both continuous and batch adsorption processes to remove toxic Cd(II) and Pb(II) metal ions from aqueous solutions. Operational parameters such as flow rate, initial concentration, and bed height were varied to understand breakthrough time, mass transfer zone, adsorption capacity, and exhaustion time during continuous adsorption, which were investigated and optimised. Additionally, the study explored the influence of solid/liquid ratio, pH, assay time, and initial concentration on batch adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacities of the lentil-like mordenite zeolite in fixed-bed breakthrough experiments were determined to be 78.22 mg/g for Cd (II) ions and 80.82 mg/g for Pb (II) ions. In batch experiments, the capacities were 133.64 mg/g for Cd (II) ions and 239.57 mg/g for Pb (II) ions. Dynamic continuous adsorption isotherms exhibited an excellent fit with the Thomas and Yoon – Nelson models, while batch adsorption isotherms conformed well to the Langmuir model. This study presents a new approach for synthesising high surface area, engineered morphology, reusable, and stable zeolite for effectively adsorbing hard metal ions from wastewaters, contributing to environmental remediation.

Noble metal modified copper-exchanged mordenite zeolite (Cu-ex-MOR) catalysts for catalyzing the methane efficient gas-phase synthesis methanol

Copper mordenite catalysts are key for methane oxidation to methanol, yet lack sufficient activity. In this paper, noble metal (Au, Ru, Pt and Pd) modified copper ion-exchanged mordenite catalysts were prepared by the ion-exchange method for further improving the methanol yield in the gas-phase continuous catalytic direct partial oxidation of methane to methanol reaction, and the role of noble metal doping on Cu-ex-MOR catalysts was investigated. Experimental results showed that the doping of Ru resulted in a significant increase in the methanol yield of Ru/Cu-ex-MOR catalyst to 157.36 μmol/gcat/h compared to that of Cu-ex-MOR catalyst (12.89 μmol/gcat/h). SEM, XRD, FT-IR, N2 adsorption-desorption, XPS, NH3-TPD and H2-TPR results showed that Ru/Cu-ex-MOR had uniformly dispersed Ru elements and the largest number of surface acidic and oxidation sites, which facilitated the adsorption and activation of methane. Additionally, it was found by TEM, in situ FT-IR and DFT characterization that Ru played a role in stabilizing the Cu active sites, the adsorptive activation of water on the Ru site and the H-transfer process reduced the energy required for breaking C–H bond of CH4 at the Cu active site, which significantly improved the methane activation capacity of the Ru/Cu-ex-MOR catalysts, resulting in higher methanol yields.

Modulation of aluminum species in mordenite zeolite for enhanced dimethyl ether carbonylation

Dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation is an important intermediate step in the synthesis of methyl acetate (MA) and ethanol. H-form mordenite (MOR) can efficiently catalyze the reaction, in which Brønsted acid sites (BASs) associated with framework Al function as active sites. But the role of other Al species such as exteraframework Al (EFAl) and framework-associated Al still remains unknown. In this study, we have proposed two convenient approaches for controlling the two Al species and investigating their influence on the DME carbonylation reaction. NH3-TPD and Py-IR analyses revealed that the number of BASs increased after the removal of EFAl and the inhibition the formation of framework-associated Al. The reactivity results showed that the elimination of EFAl promoted the DME conversion from 28% to 46%. Additionally, through the implementation of in-situ calcination to impede the presence of framework-associated Al, the DME conversion increased from 28% to 50%. With the understanding that both EFAl and framework-associated Al have a detrimental effect on the reaction, the highest conversion is achieved with these two treatments, leading to 73% DME conversion with 99% selectivity to MA. Our findings provide a systematical strategy to effectively regulate the presence of Al species in zeolite, offering insights of rational design to optimize zeolite catalysts for important industrialized process.

Facile synthesis of mordenite zeolites from bamboo leaves ash for acetalization of benzaldehye and glycerol using non-microwave instant heating

BackgroundsBamboo leaves ash (BLA) is a cheap and sustainable silica source but under-utilized. In this work, mordenite zeolites with various morphologies synthesized from BLA are reported. MethodologyOur strategy involves merely mixing of silicate and aluminate solutions where parametric crystallization study successfully captured three mordenite synthesis recipes. The prepared solids are then characterized with XRD, SEM, XRF, FTIR, TGA/DTG, N2 sorption and TPD-NH3 before their catalytic behavior is tested in acetalization . Significant findingsMordenites with three distinct shapes (nanostick, intergrown bulky ball, nanorod) are successfully synthesized via parametric crystallization study. Some mordenite zeolites contain hierarchical micro/mesoporosity which is beneficial in acetalization of benzaldehye and glycerol. The nanorod-like mordenite is the best catalyst (80.2 ± 2.4 % conversion, 54.4 ± 0.3 % selective towards 2-benzyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane) and its catalytic performance is better than those of classical homogeneous and zeolite catalysts with high recyclability.

Soft-templating synthesis of hierarchical mordenite as high-performance catalyst for cyclic acetals production via acetylation of glycerol and benzaldehyde

Highly active hierarchical mordenite zeolite with micro/mesoporosity (TM-n) for selective synthesis of cyclic acetals via acetylation reaction is reported. The hierarchical zeolite is synthesized using soft-templating approach with variations in octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS/Al2O3 ratio, n = 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) in precursor hydrogels. The results reveal that OTMS not only creates secondary mesoporosity in zeolite framework (larger mesopore volume, external surface area, average pore diameter), but also influences the crystallization process, altering the crystal morphology, crystallinity and Si/Al ratios. Among TM-n zeolites prepared, TM-0.3 hierarchical mordenite has the optimum OTMS amount incorporated while further increasing the OTMS amount leads to the formation of ANA/GIS intergrowth. Thanks to the accessible hierarchical porosity, reduced acidity and morphological effects, the TM-0.3 hierarchical mordenite exhibits excellent catalytic performance (84.1% conversion, TOF = 0.087 s−1, 61.5% dioxolane selectivity) in acetylation of glycerol and benzaldehyde (160 °C, 20 min) better than pristine mordenite. The catalyst is reusable for five runs with minimal loss of activity (TOF = 0.087 → 0.084 s−1), making it a promising catalyst for chemical productions involving bulky molecules. In addition, comparative catalytic tests with classical homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, including H2SO4, HCl, CH3COOH, H–Y, H-LTL, Na-X, Na-A, were performed.

Nanoplatelet Mordenite Zeolite with a Controlled Aspect Ratio: Implications for the Alkylation of Benzene with Benzyl Alcohol

Nanoplatelet Mordenite Zeolite with a Controlled Aspect Ratio: Implications for the Alkylation of Benzene with Benzyl Alcohol

Insights into CO oxidation on Au/TiO2-HMor zeolite catalysts at low temperature

The effect of combining TiO2 and mordenite zeolite (HMOR), employed as support of gold nanoparticles, on the CO oxidation reaction at low temperature is studied. The amount of TiO2 encapsulated into HMOR was varied and the catalyst efficiency was investigated. The deposition-precipitation with urea (DPU) method was used to deposit gold nanoparticles; likewise, the synthesis of monometallic catalysts based on TiO2 and HMOR is reported. The synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The addition of TiO2 influenced the properties of the TiO2-HMOR composite, and its catalytic performance in the CO oxidation from 20°C. It was established that the 5Au/(28)TiO2-HMOR composite was the most active catalyst at lower temperatures, which was ascribed to the close contact among the components of the TiO2-HMOR composite, gold dispersion, gold and TiO2 loadings, and Au and Ti species present in the catalysts.

Data‐Driven Strategies for Accelerated Structural Exploration of High‐Performance 2D Carbon‐Based Seawater Desalination Membranes

The insufficiency of freshwater supplies has posed a serious threat to sustainable socioeconomic growth, and seawater desalination is considered to be the most promising solution to alleviate such pressure. Currently, 2D carbon membranes are identified as deserving candidates due to their high permeability and multiple tunable properties. However, they remain challenging to systematically uncover the potential relationships between structures and properties in various 2D carbon materials. For this, a machine learning (ML) model based on feature datasets of 2D carbon materials effecting desalination properties is trained. The results suggest that structures with a maximum pore size of 10–12 atoms and atomic densities between 0.28 and 0.41 are more likely to achieve high properties. Cml‐MOR based on MOR‐type mordenite zeolite for validation is selected. Further, Cml‐MOR is demonstrated to feature remarkable salt ion adsorption. The effective water flux of Cml‐MOR is 113.51 L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1, and the salt rejection at 110 MPa can reach 98.9%. This work is expected to apply this efficient method to investigate the structure and properties of 2D carbon membranes with great structural diversity; this will attract more people to focus on them and explore their important potential for practical applications.

Nanocrystals Incorporated with Mordenite Zeolite Composites with Enhanced Upconversion Emission for Cu2+ Detection.

In this research, upconversion nanocrystals incorporated with MOR zeolite composites were synthesized using the desilicated MOR zeolite as a host for the in situ growth of NaREF4 (RE = Y, Gd) Yb/Er nanocrystals. The structure and morphology of the composites were studied with XRD, XPS, and TEM measurements, and the spectral studies indicated that the subsequent thermal treatment can effectively improve the upconversion emission intensity of Er3+. By using the NaYF4:Yb/Er@DSi1.0MOR-HT composite that holds the strongest upconversion emission, a probe of UCNC@DSiMOR/BPEI was constructed with the modification of branched poly ethylenimine for the detection of Cu2+. It was indicated that the integrated emission intensity of Er3+ shows a linear dependence with the logarithm value of the Cu2+ concentration ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM. This study offered a feasible method for the construction of UCNC@zeolite composites with enhanced upconversion emission, which may have a potential application as fluorescent probes for the detection of various metal ions by adjusting the doping luminescent center.

Investigating patterns in aluminum distribution and stability in mordenite zeolite structure: Analysis and theoretical conclusions from existing experimental data

Building upon our prior theoretical study, this work focuses on determining the position of the seventh, eighth, and ninth aluminum atoms, along with their respective exchange ▪ cations, within the unit cell of mordenite zeolite. The main objective was to identify the positions of these atoms and cations that correspond to the minimum energy state. As a result, the ground state sequence that describes the order in which aluminum atoms enter in the framework as their number increases was completed. Through our investigation, we were able to derive an analytical expression, based on the Madelung energy, which describes the stability of mordenite zeolite as a function of its Si/Al ratio. This expression provides valuable insights, revealing that as the aluminum content within the framework increases, the stability of the zeolite exhibits an asymptotic decrease. It was found that for the mordenite zeolite, Löwenstein's rule is valid for the full range of Si/Al ratios. Interestingly, the restriction that only one aluminum atom can be accommodated per ζ-cage justifies the nature of the aluminum saturation limit (Si/Al=5) in the mordenite zeolite framework. Furthermore, we conducted an evaluation of the aluminum distribution across various configurations and compared it to different experimental observations. This analysis allowed us to make a comprehensive comparison and draw meaningful insights regarding the distribution patterns of aluminum in the mordenite zeolite.

Modulating acid sites in Y zeolite for valorisation of furfural to get γ-valerolactone.

Furfural is a biomass-derived platform molecule that can be converted into a variety of useful products. Catalysts having appropriate balance between Lewis and Brønsted acid sites are suitable for valorisation of furfural. Lewis acidic metal ion incorporated zeolites were studied for this purpose. However, incorporating Lewis acidic metal ions into an alumino-silicate framework of a zeolite is a cumbersome process. Hence, an attempt has been made in this work to modulate the acid sites of Y zeolite via thermal treatment to effect controlled dealumination and use it for valorisation of furfural using isopropyl alcohol, which is a cascade transformation. The thermal treatment of zeolites changed the distribution of acid sites and increased the weak plus moderate to strong acid site ratio. Among the thermally dealuminated Y, beta and mordenite zeolites, with SiO2/Al2O3 ratio 5.2, 25 and 20, only Y zeolite could yield γ-valerolactone, the final product of the aimed cascade transformation. Complete conversion of furfural and 52% γ-valerolactone yield could be achieved under the optimized conditions using NH4Y zeolite thermally dealuminated at 700 °C (TY700). The better catalytic activity of TY700 could be correlated to a combination different factors such as framework structure, suitable weak plus moderate to strong acid site ratio, presence of both penta-coordinated and octahedral Al sites and balance between Brønsted and Lewis acid sites.