Effective factors on solid phase conversion of Fe-containing mesoporous silica into Fe-beta

Fe-incorporated zeolite beta was synthesized by a solid phase conversion method via Fe-containing mesoporous silica. Fe-mesoporous silica as a precursor for Fe-beta was successfully synthesized both in alkaline and acidic media. Fe was incorporated as a tetra-coordinated Fe3+ species in the framework of Fe-beta. The effects of Fe source and Si/Fe ratio on the crystallization to Fe-beta were investigated. It was found that mesoporosity of the precursor is important for rapid crystallization to Fe-beta, that Fe2(SO4)3 was the most favorable Fe source for the crystallization, and that Si/Fe ratio in Fe-beta was controlled proportional to that of starting solution.