Microwave-assisted method for the direct synthesis of nano-sized Cu-zeolite

Recently, the direct synthesis methods for zeolite modification have received much attention from scientists to improve zeolites as catalysts in a variety of applications. Unlike conventional methods, well advanced physicochemical properties could be introduced to zeolites through direct synthesis. During this work, Cu-loaded zeolite was directly synthesized using a microwave-assisted method, and the resulted samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman microscopy. The PXRD and SEM results revealed that the Cu-loaded zeolite has LTA (Linde Type A) crystal structure with high crystallinity and particle size obtained within the 300 - 600 nm range. The FTIR and Raman microscopic data showed the bond formation of Cu within the zeolite framework. Unlike other methods, modification of zeolite was done at a low temperature of 110℃. During this microwave-assisted method, nano-sized, LTA type Cu-zeolite was successfully obtained.