ANIONIC EMULSION-MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF ZEOLITE BETA.

Well-crystallized zeolite beta is first synthesized in the anionic emulsion systems of cyclohexane/sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate(SDBS)/pentanol/zeolite synthesis mixture. Beta materials are then characterized by XRD, SEM, and N2-adsorption techniques. Compared to beta samples grown using the same synthesis mixture in the absence of the anionic emulsion, the as-synthesized beta presents uniform and well-defined larger crystals. Interestingly, N2-adsorption results show that such beta sample possesses both ordered mesopores at 3.9 nm and macropores centered at 60.5 nm. These pores combined with the intricate micropores of the Beta crystal comprise the hierarchical porosity. The hierarchical pore-structured zeolite beta may have potential catalysis application in reactions involving large molecules. Additionally, control experiments are also performed to ascertain the effects of the individual emulsion components. Further synthesis study finds the transformation of zeolite beta to ZSM-5 through increasing oil contents, crystallization temperature and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]