Synthesis and characteristic properties of Rb-mordenite

Rb-mordenite, namely RMA-1, with a Si/Al ratio of 5.3–8.3 in a pure phase was hydrothermally synthesized for the first time from Rb-aluminosilicate gel without using any organic structure-directing agent under stirring condition. The crystal structure was analyzed by the Rietveld refinement of the XRD data, and the sites of extra framework Rb ions and water molecules were determined. The adsorption properties of water and benzene on the mordenites with different Si/Al ratios were evaluated. The adsorption capacities of water and benzene on Rb-mordenites were lower than those of Na-mordenites because of larger ionic diameter of Rb.