Developments and structures of mesopores in alkaline-treated ZSM-5 zeolites

ZSM-5 zeolites with SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of 24 were treated in 0.05 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 325 K in different periods. The samples were characterized by means of nitrogen adsorption at 77 K, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Analysis of the experimental results showed that the alkaline treatment periods have influence on the developments and structures of mesopores in the alkaline-treated ZSM-5 zeolites. Alkaline treatment initially develops mesopores mainly from the boundary portion of MFI zeolites to the bulk, while prolonged treatment destroys the mesopores, and an optimum mesoporosity is obtained by the treatment for 1.5 h. On the other hand, crystallinities and short-range order in alkaline treated zeolites have remained virtually unchanged according to the examination from X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.