Postsynthesis of hierarchical core/shell ZSM-5 as an efficient catalyst in ketalation and acetalization reactions

Abstract

Hierarchical core/shell Zeolite Socony Mobil-five (ZSM-5) zeolite was hydrothermally postsythesized in the solution of NaOH and diammonium surfactant via a dissolution-reassembly strategy. The silica and alumina species were firstly dissolved partially from the bulky ZSM-5 crystals and then were in situ reassembled into the MFI-type nanosheets with the structure-directing effect of diammonium surfactant, attaching to the out-surface of ZSM-5 core crystals. The mesopores thus were generated in both the core and shell part, giving rise to a micropore/mesopore composite material. The micropore volume and the acidity of the resultant hybrid were well-preserved during this in situ recrystallization process. Possessing the multiple mesopores and enlarged external surface area, the core/shell ZSM-5 zeolite exhibited higher activity in the ketalation and acetalization reactions involving bulky molecules in comparison to the pristine ZSM-5.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

core/shell ZSM-5 / in situ recrystallization / mesopore / ketalation and acetalization reactions

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Ministry of Science and Technology of China (Grant No. 2016YFA0202804) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 21872052, 21533002, 21571128 and 21603075).

Electronic Supplementary Material

ƒSupplementary material is available in the online version of this article at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1878-0 and is accessible for authorized users.

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