Efficient synthesis of high-silica SSZ-13 zeolite and its catalytic performance in MTO reaction.

Highly efficient synthesis of zeolites is an important goal given the many catalytic applications of zeolites in industrial chemical processes. The conventional zeolite syntheses, i.e., hydrothermal synthesis in a batch setup are usually challenged by certain limiting factors deriving from the long synthesis period or the low yield. Herein, we report that a combined strategy of organic promoter and zeolite seeding can remarkably improve the synthetic efficiency of high silica SSZ-13 zeolite. The low-cost promoter diethylamine (DEA) and zeolite seeds could both remarkably accelerate the crystallization rate of SSZ-13 zeolite, and DEA has a much higher beneficial effect on the solid yield as compared to the zeolite seeds. Consequently, the crystallization time could be unprecedentedly shorted by a factor of 30, instead of multiple days normally required. Besides, this novel protocol also exhibits high atom efficiency (93% of yield). The resultant high-silica nano-sized SSZ-13 zeolite shows good (hydro)thermal stability along with excellent catalytic performance for the MTO reaction. [Display omitted] • Synthetic efficiency of high-silica SSZ-13 zeolite was remarkably improved. • Cost-effective promoter and zeolite seeds were used in the synthesis gel. • Fast-synthesized SSZ-13 zeolite exhibits high crystallinity, high yield, small grain, and high stability. • Good performance in the MTO reaction; improved selectivity of light olefins. • Novel approach could be applied to the fast synthesis of other zeolite topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]