Synthesis of ZSM-5 Zeolite Using Bayat Natural Zeolite as Silica and Alumina Source

Zeolite ZSM-5 has been successfully synthesized from natural zeolite Bayat without further purification. The silica and alumina source are taken from the natural zeolite through submolten depolimerization method. Ludox 40% was used as additional silica source to reach Si/Al ratio of 32 in the starting gel and tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) was used as a structure directing agent (SDA). Synthesis was carried out hydrothermally with aging and crystallization temperature at 150 degrees C. The as-synthesized zeolite was characterized with XRD, FTIR and SEM-EDX. The XRD patterns of the resulted synthesis showed diffraction peaks at 2 theta = 7.9 degrees-8.8 degrees (doublet peaks) and diffraction peaks at 2 theta = 22 degrees-25 degrees (triplet peaks) which are characteristic for ZSM-5 structure. The SEM image showed that the ZSM-5 zeolite from Bayat natural zeolite had morphology of hexagonal crystalls with some debris of impurities. The elemental analysis using EDX gave Si/Al molar ratio of 18.5.