Alkaline leaching for synthesis of improved Fe-ZSM5 catalysts

Fe-ZSM5 catalysts were fully Fe-exchanged by pretreating the parent zeolite with base a solution prior to the Fe-exchange. The catalysts prepared in this way showed very low amount of inactive FeOx and improved performance in N2O decomposition. Alkaline leaching breaks down the zeolite crystals – which shorten the diffusional lengths – and the Fe-exchange is completed. The improved performance is related to the higher amount of Fe exchanged into the Brønsted sites.