Issue 10, 2020

Binder-free preparation of ZSM-5@silica beads and their use for organic pollutant removal

Abstract

Zeolites are widely recognised as effective adsorbents for the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous sources. However, their intrinsic powder form makes their application restricted by the arduous filtration-recovery process and their decreased activity due to aggregation. Herein, we report the organic structure directing agent (OSDA) free and binder-free preparation of ZSM-5@silica beads for organic pollutant sequestration exemplified by the aniline removal. All silica beads were prepared by employing ion exchange resin beads as a macro-template and further used to prepare a ZSM-5@silica composite. First, anion exchange resin beads were charged with silica by ion exchange. Second, the anion exchange resin was eliminated by high temperature combustion leaving behind an all-silica replica. The all-silica replica was partially transformed into ZSM-5 by hydrothermal treatment. ZSM-5 was synthesized from the OSDA-free system, thus avoiding high temperature calcination of the composite. The effect of the crystallization temperature (120, 150, and 170 °C) on the formation of ZSM-5 was studied. The physicochemical properties of the obtained beads were determined using different characterization methods such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning-electron microscopy (SEM), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, and thermogravimetry (TG). The ZSM-5@silica composite demonstrated a remarkable capacity, outpacing most silica-based adsorbents and modified zeolitic materials, re-usability and retained spherical shape. The binder-free zeolite shaping technology offers a green and straightforward method for preparing zeolite-based adsorbents for the removal of organic pollutants from waste water.

Graphical abstract: Binder-free preparation of ZSM-5@silica beads and their use for organic pollutant removal

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
28 Feb 2020
Accepted
15 Apr 2020
First published
20 Apr 2020

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020,7, 2080-2088

Binder-free preparation of ZSM-5@silica beads and their use for organic pollutant removal

P. He, J. Ding, Z. Qin, L. Tang, K. Haw, Y. Zhang, Q. Fang, S. Qiu and V. Valtchev, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2020, 7, 2080 DOI: 10.1039/D0QI00259C

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