Electrical double-layer effects on the deposition of zeolite A on surfaces

Zeolite particles formed from an aluminosilicate solution possess a negative surface charge due to the substitution of aluminum atoms into a SiO4 tetrahedral structure making it difficult to form a continuous layer in solution. The particle interactions with surfaces and each other can be studied using the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The interaction energy between zeolite-zeolite and zeolite-substrate on various materials can be estimated in this fashion. The zeolite LTA particles show a stronger repulsion interaction on all substrates and on the each other as compared to the ZSM-5 particles. This repulsive energy also increases as the particles size increases. This results in the formation of conglomerate in the solution rather than forming an adhered layer on the substrate. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The preparation and analysis of zeolite ZSM-5 membranes on porous alumina supports

Zeolite ZSM-5 particles formed in the synthesis solution assume a negative charge due to electrical double layer effects. Therefore, we investigated the use of electrophoretic techniques in addition to the hydrothermal synthesis method to attract the zeolite particles to the substrate surface before they precipitate out of the solution. This electrophoretic driving force produces a thin, continuous zeolite ZSM-5 membrane on the porous substrate. This research was conducted in order to produce zeolite membranes on a tubular support that could effect continuous gas phase separations. The thickness of membranes can be controlled by varying the precursor concentration, applied potential, and synthesis time. The selectivity of n-butane over iso-butane is observed on every membrane. The membranes were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). © 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V

The effect of composition on the growth and morphology of zeolite A in solution

The zeolite LTA (Linde type A) framework is composed of an equal amount of silica and alumina arranged in a three-dimension tetrahedral structure. This high alumina content zeolite possesses a strong negative surface charge in a basic solution due to the substitution of aluminum atoms into a SiO4 tetrahedral structure making it difficult to form a continuous layer in solution. Synthesis parameters such as synthesis duration, chemical composition, and synthesis temperature were varied. The crystallization kinetics was carried out using the particle size measurement, percent crystallinity from x-ray diffraction analysis, infrared absorption of tetrahedra using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the exponential growth model. The results showed that the zeolite A crystallization in a solution depends on the chemical kinetics of the zeolite formation, surface charge of the substrate, and the mass transfer in the solution. © 2004 Materials Research Society