Effects of organic acids on microwave-assisted leaching for mesopore generation in FAU zeolite

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 130; no. 10
• Main Authors: Phuong, Nguyen Thi Truc, Thuan, Nguyen Minh, Linh, Nguyen Thi My, Van Dung, Nguyen, Duong, Ngo Tran Hoang, Long, Nguyen Quang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acid leaching; Acids; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Corrosion mechanisms; Machines; Manufacturing; Methylene blue; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Organic acids; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Synthesis; Tartaric acid; Thin Films; Zeolites; Mesoporous zeolite; FAU zeolite; Organic acid-leaching; Methylene blue adsorption; Microwave-assisted method
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-024-07879-9

In this study, mesoporous FAU zeolites with pores in the range of 3–4 nm were successfully synthesized by acid leaching method using several organic acids. Zeolite samples were treated with six organic acids (acetic, oxalic, succinic, adipic, malic, and D-tartaric acid) in microwave-assisted acid leaching to investigate the influence of specific acids on formation of mesostructured zeolite ability to evaluate their influence on mesostructure formation and potential applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that all synthesized samples retained the initial crystalline structure. The nitrogen physisorption curves indicated that all samples possess mesoporous structures. According to TEM results, the proposed mechanism of the method was due to acid diffusion and corrosion from the external to internal structure leading to the formation of the mesoscale pores. The adsorption capacity was investigated with methylene blue (MB), and the results varied according to the acid used but were generally much higher than untreated zeolite X. These findings suggest that the one-step microwave-assisted acid leaching method holds significant potential for practical applications due to its efficiency and simplicity.