Composition and kinetic study on template- and solvent-free synthesis of ZSM-5 using leached illite clay

ZSM-5 was synthesized by using leached illite clay in a template- and solvent-free method, which involves grinding and heating the raw materials without adding solvent water or an organic template. The physicochemical properties of the obtained samples were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, 27Al MAS NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Py-IR spectroscopy, NH3-temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) analysis and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. According to the results, highly crystalline ZSM-5 was obtained at 473 K after 24 h. The kinetic study based on 6.7Na2O–40SiO2–Al2O3 was conducted at 453, 463, and 473 K, and the results suggested that the apparent activation energies for nucleation and growth were 61.0 kJ/mol and 70.9 kJ/mol, respectively Furthermore, the mechanism for template- and solvent-free synthesis of ZSM-5 using leached illite as the silica source was discussed. The catalytic activity of the synthesized ZSM-5 towards toluene disproportionation was comparable to that of commercial ZSM-5.