Acidic properties of SSZ-33 and SSZ-35 novel zeolites : a complex infrared and MAS NMR study

Two novel zeolites SSZ-33 and SSZ-35 were investigated with respect to their acidic properties using different probe molecules to characterize the accessibility and acid strength of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites. Ammonia, pyridine, pivalonitrile, and acetonitrile-d3 were used as probe molecules, and the results were correlated with 27Al and 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Both SSZ-33 and SSZ-35 zeolites were found to possess bridging Si−OH−Al groups of virtually uniform and high acid strength. For both SSZ-33 and SSZ-35, there is the typical presence of highly disturbed OH groups (IR band around 3500 cm-1), which amounts to almost half of the overall Bronsted acidity. It was found that almost all bridging Si−OH−Al groups in SSZ-33 are located in the 12-MR rings. Both acetonitrile-d3 and pyridine sorptions suggest the presence of two types of Lewis sites in SSZ-35, differing in acid strength and electron-acceptor properties, whereas in the SSZ-33 zeolite only one type is present. The relative strength o...