NaY Zeolite Research Articles

Zeolites as Adsorbents and Photocatalysts for Removal of Dyes from the Aqueous Environment.

This study investigated the potential of zeolites (NH4BETA, NH4ZSM-5, and NaY) to remove two frequently used dyes, methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB), from an aqueous environment. The removal of dyes with zeolites was performed via two mechanisms: adsorption and photocatalysis. Removal of dyes through adsorption was achieved by studying the Freundlich adsorption isotherms, while photocatalytic removal of dyes was performed under UV irradiation. In both cases, the removal experiments were conducted for 180 min at two temperatures (283 K and 293 K), and dye concentrations were determined spectrophotometrically. Additionally, after photodegradation, mineralization was analyzed as chemical oxygen demand. A computational analysis of the structures of MB and RB was performed to gain a deeper understanding of the obtained results. The computational analysis encompassed density functional theory (DFT) calculations and analysis of two quantum-molecular descriptors addressing the local reactivity of molecules. Experimental results have indicated that the considered zeolites effectively remove both dyes through both mechanisms, especially NH4BETA and NH4ZSM-5, due to the presence of active acidic centers on the outer and inner surfaces of the zeolite. The lowest efficiency of dye removal was achieved in the presence of NaY zeolite, which has a lower SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. A more efficient reduction was completed for RB dye, which agrees with the computationally obtained information about reactivity.

Molecular dynamic simulations for interactions of oxytetracycline with copper(II)-exchanged NaY zeolite

• Surface structure reflections on interactions of OTC with Cu 2+ -Y was explored. • The Raman spectra revealed ion exchange took place at the 4-ring I site. • Cu 2+ -Y offered reducing strain broadening and narrow particle size distribution. • MD simulation revealed ability of Cu 2+ -Y to attract OTC at force interaction. This study was devoted to examine the effect of the surface structure of Cu 2+ -Y against pure NaY on the photodegradation of oxytetracycline (OTC). The lattice strain examined by Rietveld analysis of XRD data showed strain induced peak broadening at 0.124 for NaY, which diminished to 0.119 for Cu 2+ -Y, prompted by the exchange of Cu 2+ onto the NaY zeolite. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) statistical analysis of Cu 2+ -Y revealed better crystallinity with larger cube width, >2 µm, compared with NaY, 1.7 µm. The vibrational modes and optical properties of Cu 2+ -Y and NaY were compared using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, Raman spectroscopy, and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS). An IR band at 665 cm −1 associated with ν s (Si-O-Cu) was evident for Cu 2+ -Y, which was absent from the spectrum of pure NaY. The Raman bending vibration at 490 cm −1 due to 4-membered ring I in the Cu 2+ -Y displayed a blue shift and a lower value of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) by about 3.02 nm and 0.74 cm −1 , respectively, compared with that of NaY. It was proposed that Cu 2+ ions are attached to shared oxygen of double 4-rings in Y-zeolite. The electronic analysis of Cu 2+ -Y revealed an indirect energy bandgap of 3.17 eV together with an excitonic absorption band at ∼2 eV. The computational molecular adsorption calculations demonstrated the potential effect of Cu 2+ -Y to accommodate five molecules of OTC per unit cell. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were committed to support the response behind the higher efficiency and stability of Cu 2+ -Y towards adsorption of the OTC under the force of interaction. OTC molecules brought into being travel toward positions of copper in the optimized OTC@Cu 2+ -Y. In contrast, Na + ions in OTC@NaY held moving towards the edges of the zeolite unit cell and no evidence of the presence of OTC molecules inside the confines of the zeolite cavities. H-bond distribution indicate a close connection and a more stable configuration of OTC inside the Cu 2+ -Y. Thus, MD simulations can safely predict the potential of Cu 2+ to attract the OTC molecules to form OTC@Cu 2+ -Y complexes.

Utilization of starch and cellulose toward facile synthesis of high surface area zeolite-templated carbon

• Starch and cellulose are examined to synthesize zeolite-templated carbons (ZTCs). • Gravimetric surface area is maximized to 3760 m 2 g −1 by using starch. • Volumetric surface area is maximized to 790 m 2 g −1 by using cellulose. • EDLC performances of the ZTCs are evaluated using an organic electrolyte. • The present method does not use liquid-phase adsorption or any organic solvents. Starch and cellulose are examined to synthesize high surface area zeolite-templated carbons (ZTCs). In this method, starch or cellulose is mixed with undried NaY zeolite as a template, and the mixture is subject to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using propylene and subsequent heat treatment, followed by zeolite removal with HF. For maximizing the structural regularity and surface area of ZTC, a necessary amount of starch is only equal to the total pore volume of the zeolite ( i.e. , 0.5 g per 1 g of the zeolite). Upon heating, starch is decomposed into oligosaccharides and the oligosaccharides are adsorbed inside the micropores of the zeolite before the CVD. The adsorbed oligosaccharides are pyrolyzed into nanographenes, and the nanographenes are extended and interconnected together to form the three-dimensional ZTC framework inside the zeolite pores during the CVD. The resulting gravimetric and volumetric surface areas are 3760 m 2 g −1 and 630 m 2 cm −3 , respectively. Meanwhile, cellulose is not readily decomposed into oligosaccharides, and a necessary amount of cellulose is 1.4 times larger than that that of starch to maximize the high structural regularity, yielding the gravimetric and volumetric surface areas of 3330 m 2 g −1 and 670 m 2 cm −3 , respectively. A decrease in the gravimetric surface area is explained by the formation of cellulose-derived amorphous carbons on the surface of ZTC particles. However, the difference in their volumetric surface areas is negligible because the amorphous carbons are so small that they do not expand the volume of the densified ZTC. Consequently, the ZTC prepared using cellulose shows high volumetric capacitance and high capacitance retention even at 10 A g −1 as an electric double-layer capacitor electrode, due to the existence of amorphous carbons that enhance the electrical conductivity of the electrode.

Sequential separation of cobalt and lithium by sorption: Sorbent set selection

The sorption of cobalt and lithium was studied using low-cost natural (dolomite, diatomite, barite), commercial (13X zeolites and clinoptilolite) and synthesized (mesoporous carbon and NaY zeolite) sorbents. The pH of the medium was a key factor in the sorption process which can be modified due to the active chemical groups on the surface of the sorbents. Therefore, the doses of each sorbent were selected to avoid cobalt precipitation, working at pH below 8. Sorption with monometallic solution was carried out to select the best set of sorbents for subsequent selective separation. Only mesoporous activated carbon and dolomite allow to achieve significant cobalt removal, 85% and 65% respectively, with negligible lithium removal. 13X zeolite (high surface area and low Si/Al molar ratio) removed both metals without selectivity. Therefore, dolomite and mesoporous activated carbon were selected for the selective separation of cobalt, as they allow to achieve an adsorbed Co2+/Li+ weight ratio of 16 and 4, respectively. 13X was selected to remove lithium once cobalt was removed from the solution. The best separation was carried out by a two-sequential sorption stage, using dolomite in a first stage to separate cobalt and 13X zeolite in a second stage to remove lithium, reaching an almost complete removal of both metals. The pH control for working with high doses of dolomite was achieved by means of a solid phase pH buffer (solid buffer) composed by a mixture of the dolomite itself and non-activated mesoporous carbon (without sorption capacity) in a 1:4 weight ratio. This solid buffer allowed the pH of the medium to be controlled to around 6.5.

Copper‐amine complex immobilized on nano NaY zeolite as a recyclable nanocatalyst for the environmentally friendly synthesis of 2‐amino‐4H‐chromenes

The nano NaY zeolite‐supported copper‐amine complex was prepared by postmodification of the nano NaY zeolite with 3‐chloropropyl trimethoxysilane (CPTMS) and [2‐({3‐[(2‐aminoethyl)thio]propyl}thio)ethyl]amine followed by coordination with Cu (I) ion. Various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron micrograph (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), t‐plot, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and elemental analyses were used to characterize the structure of the synthesized catalyst. The catalytic activity of the synthesized nano‐sample was evaluated in a three‐component synthesis of 2‐amino‐4H‐chromene derivatives, which resulted in high reaction yields and short reaction times under green conditions. The catalyst is separated by filtration and can be reused for at least seven consecutive runs without significant loss of catalytic activity. The nature of the supported [2‐({3‐[(2‐aminoethyl)thio]propyl}thio)ethyl]amine (NN) on the zeolite's surface improved the catalytic activity of the zeolite, provided homogeneity to the catalyst, and enhanced the capability of coordination with copper ions. Facile catalyst recovery and reuse, simple setup procedure and generality of the method, high turnover number (TON), and aqueous ethanol as a green solvent make this procedure an environmentally benign approach for preparing the titled heterocycles. The findings in this work revealed that the introduced catalytic system could be used to prepare other beneficial heterocyclic compounds under environmentally benign conditions.

Effect of NaY Zeolite at Different Calcination Temperatures on the Activity in Hydroformylation of Formaldehyde

AbstractThe NaY zeolites were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis method. The influence of NaY zeolite calcined at different temperatures as carriers for Rh/NaY catalysts on the hydroformylation of formaldehyde was investigated. The physical and chemical properties of Rh/NaY catalysts and their performance were characterized in details. When the zeolites were calcined at 400–700 °C, the crystal structure and morphology were kept unchanged within this range of calcination temperature. However, the surface crystallinity and surface area were reduced with increasing the temperature due to the partially collapsed of its framework, and thus reducing the confine of cages structure to rhodium species promote its participation in the coordination reaction. The reduction in the amount of surface Lewis acid can reduce the electronegativity of the carrier and change the electronic state of the surface rhodium species, which would weaken the hindrance to anionic speciation and promote CO insertion, which facilitates the hydroformylation of formaldehyde.

Synthesis of para-Dichlorobenzene by Chlorobenzene Chlorination on NaY Zeolite Heterogeneous Catalyst

Synthesis of para-Dichlorobenzene by Chlorobenzene Chlorination on NaY Zeolite Heterogeneous Catalyst

Local silica sand as a silica source in the synthesis of Y zeolite

AbstractThe objective of this research is to generate Y zeolite using local silica sand as a source of silica via the hydrothermal method. Prior to synthesis, contaminants were removed from the local silica sand using hydrochloric acid, and Al2O3 was utilized as an aluminum source. Y zeolite was hydrothermally synthesized at 100± 1°C. Room temperature and 48 h were chosen as the aging temperature and period, respectively. In this synthesis, the impact of reaction time and different SiO2/Al2O3 and Na2O/SiO2 ratios were explored. The synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, and FT‐IR. Y zeolite, with a low SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (3.0–3.9), was synthesized at a high yield under low alkalinity conditions (Na2O/SiO2 = 0.9–2.0) after optimizing the synthesis time. The competitive phase was P zeolite, which was found in the products at high reaction time (12 h). However, pure Y zeolite with high crystallinity was produced under optimum circumstances, such as crystallization temperature (100°C) and 10 h. The findings reveal that reaction time has a role in the generation of Y zeolite. It has been revealed that low‐cost raw materials like silica sand can be utilized to produce Y zeolite. The NaY zeolites were subsequently transformed into HY by ammonium exchange and calcination.

Improved catalytic performance of Pd-Cu/NaY zeolite by tunning Al distribution for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is a green chemical that is widely used in the synthesis of polycarbonate and the electrolyte of batteries. The Coal to DMC is a cost-effective pathway and the carbonylation of methyl nitrite (MN) is a critical step. The Pd-based catalysts have been extensively investigated for this reaction. However, the effect of the catalyst support (NaY zeolite) is rarely studied and unclear. Here, the mechanisms are disclosed by combining experiments and theoretical simulations. We find in experiments that the activity of the catalysts increases when the Si/Al molar ratio of NaY zeolite increases from 1.37 to 1.75, and then decrease when the Si/Al ratio reaches 2.33. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations results indicate that the CO adsorption strength on the catalysts is affected by not only the Si/Al ratio but also the distribution pattern of Al substitutions. The CO adsorption strength is moderated by the population of the Al-O-Si-O-Si-O-Al and Al-O-Si-O-Al linkages in Pd-NaY. The theoretical results provide useful information to clarify the effects of Al distribution for the catalysts with NaY zeolite as support.

Facile Synthesis of High Surface Area Zeolite-Templated Carbon from Sugars and Propylene

Zeolite-templated carbons (ZTCs) with high surface areas of ≥3750 m2 g–1 are facilely synthesized from sugars and propylene as carbon sources using NaY zeolite as a template. The zeolite need not be previously dried to remove adsorbed water and can be directly mixed with sugars. The mixture is subject to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of propylene at 700 °C and subsequent heat treatment at 900 °C, followed by HF etching for zeolite removal. In this study, α-d-glucose, β-d-glucose, d-xylose, d-fructose, and d-sucrose are examined, and a necessary amount of all the sugars per 1 g of the zeolite is reduced to only 0.32 cm3, which corresponds to the total pore volume of the zeolite, for maximizing the surface area and structural regularity of ZTC. Upon heating, adsorbed water desorbs from the zeolite, and the sugars are adsorbed inside the micropores of the zeolite below 300 °C. The adsorbed sugars are carbonized into nanographenes, and the nanographenes are extended and interconnected together via a graphene growth reaction during the CVD. Consequently, the three-dimensionally ordered and interconnected pore structure with a uniform pore size of 1.2 nm is recovered by HF etching, yielding 0.3 g of ZTC per 1 g of the zeolite. The present synthetic method does not require any solvents for adsorption of sugars, and therefore, high surface area ZTCs would become widely and readily available as adsorbents and electrodes for practical applications and fundamental studies.

Aerosol Assisted Synthesis of Y/ZSM‐5 Composite Zeolite and Its Application in Cracking Reaction

AbstractY/ZSM‐5 composite zeolite was synthesized by an aerosol assisted hydrothermal method including a two‐step crystallization. The aerosol technique was used to prepare the precursor of Y/ZSM‐5 composite zeolite. This helped to fully utilize the amorphous silica‐alumina species left in the primary crystallization solution of NaY zeolite, and to bring the two zeolites close to each other during the second crystallization step. The optimal adding sequence and synthesis conditions were investigated to reduce the amount of template and accelerate the crystallization rate. The composite zeolites were analyzed using XRD, SEM, nitrogen physical adsorption, NH3‐TPD techniques. It was found that the acid properties can be adjusted by modulating the SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of the secondary crystallization feed. The BET specific surface area of the optimal Y/ZSM‐5(20) composite zeolite is 502 m2/g, the pyrolysis conversion rate of 1,3,5‐triisopropylbenzene reaches 95.1 %, and the selectivity to benzene reaches 53.4 %.

Gas Identification by Simultaneous Permeation through Parallel Membranes: Proof of Concept

This paper describes an experimental system for simultaneous permeation of a pressurized test gas through different gas permeable membranes and provides a proof of concept for a novel approach for gas identification/fingerprinting for potential construction of electronic noses. The design, construction, and use of a six-channel system which allows simultaneous gas permeation from a single pressurized gas compartment through six different parallel membranes are presented. The permeated gas is accumulated in confined spaces behind the respective membranes. The rate of gas pressure accumulation behind each membrane is recorded and used as a measure of the gas permeation rate through the membrane. The utilized gas permeable membranes include Teflon AF, silicone rubber, track-etch hydrophilic polycarbonate, track-etch hydrophobic polycarbonate, track-etch polyimide, nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide, zeolite ZSM-5, and zeolite NaY. An analogy between the rate of pressure accumulation of the permeating gas behind the membrane and the charging of an electric capacitor in a single series RC circuit is proposed and thoroughly validated. The simultaneous permeation rates through different membranes demonstrated a very promising potential as characteristic fingerprints for 10 test gases, that is, helium, neon, argon, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane, and ethylene, which are selected as representative examples of mono-, di-, tri-, and polyatomic gases and to include some homologous series as well as to allow testing the potential of the proposed system to discriminate between closely related gases such as ethane and ethylene or carbon dioxide and propane which have almost identical molecular masses. Finally, a preliminary investigation of the possibility of applying the developed gas permeation system for semiquantitative analysis of the CO2-N2 binary mixture is also presented.

Enhanced catalytic reduction/degradation of organic pollutants and antimicrobial activity with metallic nanoparticles immobilized on copolymer modified with NaY zeolite films

Toxic organic pollutants are the major cause of water pollution. Thus, finding a reliable technology for the removal of such pollutants is one of the global priorities for the protection of the natural environment and human health. The MNP’s with low-cost and high catalytic efficiency loaded on self-assembled polymeric membranes are promising approach to treat waste water because of their outstanding properties. In this work, novel polystyrene-b-polyisoprene-b-polystyrene block copolymer (BP) virgin and modified composites with NaY zeolite (BP-NaY) were successfully prepared via a simple solution casting method for immobilization of the metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Both the films were impregnated with zero-valent Cu, Ag and CuAg nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesized catalysts were analyzed through FESEM, EDS, FTIR and XRD. The impregnated metal ions on BP or BP-NaY nanocomposites thin films were converted to their corresponding zero-valent metal NPs by using NaBH4 as a reductant and were evaluated for their catalytic activity in the reduction of various organic pollutants including dyes (MO, CR, MB, ARS), nitroarenes (4-NP, 4-NA, 2/3/4-NB) and antibiotic cefixime. Based on pseudo-first-order kinetics, the rate constant value “kapp” was highest for [email protected] catalyst against all pollutants i.e. 14.7 × 10−1, 40.6 × 10−1, 17.5 × 10−1, 11.6 × 10−1, 12.7 × 10−1, 6.4 × 10−1, 13.2 × 10−1 min−1 for 4-NP, 4-NA, MO, ARS, MB, CR and cefixime respectively. The effect of various parameters on pollutants removal and concurrent degradation of dyes and nitroarenes were also investigated. Catalyst proved to be stable as a slight reduction in the catalyst activity was observed during recyclability. Moreover, the [email protected] showed 19- and 22-mm zone of inhibition against Escheria coli and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. Thus, this study highlighted the catalytic potential of the prepared MNPs in water treatment applications.

Rapid Aging of Binder‐Free Zeolite NaY Beads in Thermal Energy Storage Applications

AbstractZeolites can be used to store thermal energy, but they may age and lose a fraction of their storage capacity during prolonged use. The purpose of this study is to determine which parameters are responsible for the aging of the zeolite NaY by exposing it to extreme hydrothermal conditions. In a laboratory unit, a fixed bed of binder‐free zeolite NaY beads was treated hydrothermally, and the beads were analyzed for signs of aging. Also, a fixed bed of binder‐free zeolite 13X beads was tested for comparison. The results indicate that the two zeolite types age differently, depending on temperature and time of exposure.

Simultaneous recovery of ammonium and phosphate from aqueous solutions using Mg/Fe modified NaY zeolite: Integration between adsorption and struvite precipitation

Currently, the closure of the nutrient circular loop and contaminant removal from wastewater are drawing widespread attention. In this study, a novel MgO/iron oxide-modified NaY zeolite (MNZ) was prepared and used for the integration of adsorption and struvite precipitation to simultaneously reclaim ammonium and phosphate from wastewater. The results proved that MgO and iron oxide nanoparticles were successfully embedded in the zeolite matrix, providing high adsorption performance for ammonium and phosphate, reaching 380.02 (as NH + 4) and 324.68 (as PT) mg/g, respectively. The presence of NO3− , Cl−, SO42−, and HCO3− did not significantly influence the adsorption of ammonium and phosphate. Struvite precipitation on the MNZ surface is the primary mechanism for the recovery of both ammonium and phosphate with electrostatic attraction and ion exchange also involved in ammonium uptake. These results indicate that optimized MNZ is promising for nutrient recovery from wastewater because of its high selectivity for targeted absorbates and its potential application as a slow-release eco-fertilizer.

Cu, Co, or Ni species in exchanged Y zeolite catalysts and their denitration performance for selective catalytic reduction by ammonia

Identifying the role of Cu, Co, or Ni species in exchanged zeolite catalysts by different preparation methods has been widely concerned for selective catalytic reduction by ammonia (NH3-SCR). Here, we found that ammonia wet ion exchange method (AWIE) was useful for increasing ionic species and improving ion polymerization degree in traditional NaY (Si/Al = 2.5) zeolites. Cu, Co, and Ni substituted Y zeolite prepared by AWIE method achieved better SCR performance than those by conventional wet ion exchange method (CWIE). Meanwhile, the coordination states and chemical environments of Cu, Co, and Ni exchanged species influenced the redox and adsorption properties of catalysts. Cu-NH3-IE catalyst had a wider SCR temperature window than Co-NH3-IE and Ni-NH3-IE catalysts owing to its more stable NH3 adsorption, lower temperature, and smaller area of reduction peak. We proposed that the balance of NH3 adsorption and oxidation in thermodynamics and kinetics was the key for high N2 selectivity. This work provided a new idea for modifying the active sites of zeolite catalysts to achieve high activity and N2 selectivity in a broad temperature window.

Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate via Transesterification of Ethylene Carbonate and Methanol using Recyclable Li/NaY Zeolite

AbstractIn this work, the novel solid base Li/NaY was prepared via the solid state reaction between NaY zeolite and Li2CO3 at high temperature. When applied to the dimethyl carbonate (DMC) preparation through transesterification of ethylene carbonate (EC) and methanol, up to 89% yield of DMC with 99% selectivity can be accessed. The characterization results reveal the as‐synthesized Li/NaY possesses higher basicity than NaY. Furthermore, the Lewis acidity of the Li/NaY material is also enhanced due to the incorporation of lithium. Therefore, the Li/NaY can act as a dual functional catalyst in the transesterification reaction, thus leading to high efficiency. Notably, this catalyst can be easily recovered and reused for at least six times without obvious activity loss. This work provides a green synthetic route to DMC production and also sheds light on the development of solid basic catalysts.

Statistical optimization of process conditions for pyrvinium pamoate elimination using UV/zeolite‐based nanostructures/H 2 O 2

Statistical optimization of process conditions for pyrvinium pamoate elimination using UV/zeolite‐based nanostructures/H ₂ O ₂

Elucidation of the reaction mechanism of indirect oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate on Pd/NaY catalyst: Direct identification of reaction intermediates

Gas-phase indirect oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate (DMC) has been industrialized, but the reaction mechanism is still ambiguous. In this work, the reaction mechanism of DMC synthesis using a NaY zeolite catalyst doped with 1.0 wt% Pd was revealed by combining in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) results with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two key reaction intermediates CO* (*, a surface site) and COOCH3* were identified through the adsorption of a probe molecule of methyl chloroformate (CH3OCOCl), and characterized by steady-state, dynamic-pulse and time-resolved transient DRIFTS experiments. The CO* intermediate is predominant on the catalyst surface when the reaction reached steady-state. The DFT results also showed that the inclusion of OCH3* into CO* had the highest energy barrier of 150.1 kJ mol−1. This verified that the formation of COOCH3* is the rate-determining step for the DMC synthesis. A Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism including the fast formation of CO*, and rate-determining insertion of OCH3* into CO* toward generation of COOCH3* to yield DMC was proposed.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 production from H2O boosted by anchoring Pt and CdS nanoparticles on a NaY zeolite

Photocatalytic H2 production from H2O is promising for solving the energy and environment problems. Zeolites have been widely used in thermocatalysis, but their application in photocatalysis is limited. Herein, we anchor CdS and Pt nanoparticles on a NaY zeolite (ZP48) fabricated via 48 h crystallization to form a CdS/Pt/ZP48 photocatalyst for visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 production from H2O. CdS/Pt/ZP48 shows a H2 production rate (686.5 μmol h−1) which is higher than those on Pt/CdS (263.2 μmol h−1) and photocatalysts with zeolite supports prepared by using crystallization times shorter and longer than 48 h, with an apparent quantum efficiency of 23.5% and superior stability. ZP48 promotes the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, thus releasing more electrons for enhancing the photocatalytic H2 production on CdS/Pt/ZP48. These results are helpful for fabricating more efficient photocatalysts by zeolites which are widely used in industry but have poor ability in light absorption and charge transfer.