The role of alcohols and diols as co-solvents in fabrication of TON zeolite

• Alcohols and diols were used as a co-solvent in fabrication of TON zeolite.
• Effect of co-solvents as crystal growth modifiers in TON synthesis was studied.
• TON with different crystal sizes and morphologies were synthesized successfully.
• The unwanted cristobalite phase in the synthesis of TON was suppressed.

Numerous industrial catalysts and sorbents require better control of crystal size and morphology of the zeolites. Here, we report a method to selectively control the crystal size and morphology of ZSM-22 by using alcohols and diols as co-solvents in water–alcohol system. The results demonstrated the role of co-solvent in controlling the crystallization growth of ZSM-22 zeolite. Addition of co-solvent suppressed nucleation of unwanted cristobalite phase in crystallization and growth of ZSM-22 zeolite. We found that alcohols and diols as cheap co-solvent are effective in tuning and controlling crystal size, aspect ratio and co-crystalization phases of zeolite ZSM-22.

SEM micrographs of ZSM-22 zeolites prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis with horizontal rotation at 50 rpm for 48 h and different concentrations (wt.%) of ethanol: (a) 0 wt.% (parent), (b) 5 wt.% (T-EtOH-5) and (c) 20 wt.% (T-EtOH-20).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide