STATE-OF-THE-ART ZEOLITE CHARACTERIZATION: ARGON ADSORPTION AT 87.3 K AND NONLOCAL DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY (NLDFT)

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1 STATE-OF-THE-ART ZEOLITE CHARACTERIZATION: ARGON ADSORPTION AT 87.3 K AND NONLOCAL DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY (NLDFT) Physical adsorption in materials consisting of micropores, as for instance in zeolites etc. occurs at relative pressures substantially lower than in the case of adsorption phenomena in mesopores, but spans several orders of magnitude in relative pressure. In particular, the characterization of zeolites with nitrogen at 77.4 K is difficult, because the filling of pores of dimension.5-1 nm occurs at relative pressures of 1-7 to 1-5, where the rate of diffusion and adsorption equilibration is very slow. Hence, it is advantageous to analyze zeolites consisting of such narrow micropores by using argon as adsorptive at liquid argon temperature (87.3 K). Argon fills micropores of dimensions.5 1nm at much higher relative pressures (i.e., at relative pressures 1-5 to 1-3 ) compared to nitrogen, which leads to accelerated diffusion and equilibration processes and thus also to a reduction in analysis time. Figure 1(a) shows the different pore filling ranges for argon adsorption at 87.3 K and nitrogen adsorption at 77.4 K based on adsorption data obtained on a faujasite-type zeolite. Argon adsorption at liquid argon temperature allows to obtain accurate and high-resolution adsorption isotherm data for the most important zeolites. This is demonstrated in Figure 1(b), which shows argon adsorption isotherms on some selected zeolite samples of different texture (i.e., different pore geometries and pore sizes). 35 N2/77K Ar/87 K 28 Volume [cm 3 ] P/P ZEOLITE Figure 1(a) Nitrogen and argon sorption isotherms at 77.4 K and 87.3 K on a faujasite-type zeolite. 19 Corporate Drive Boynton Beach, FL USA (8) (561) Fax (561) qc.sales@quantachrome.com (Page 1 of 5) PN 59-27

2 36 Volume [cc/g] X NaX MCM-58 H-Mordenite Linde 5A P/P Figure 1(b) Argon adsorption isotherms at 87.3 K in various zeolites. In addition, difficulties are associated with regard to the analysis of micropore adsorption data. Classical, macroscopic theories like for instance the Dubinin-Radushkevich approach and semiempirical treatments such those of Horvath and Kawazoe (HK) and Saito and Foley (see ref. [1] for an overview] do not give a realistic description of micropore filling. This leads to an underestimation of pore sizes for micropores and even for materials with narrow mesopores [1,2]. Further, in order to determine the pore volume classical methods usually assume that the adsorbed fluid has a bulk-like liquid density. However this assumption is more than questionable for the adsorbate confined to the narrow micropores in zeolites. In order to achieve a more realistic description, microscopic theories which describe the sorption and phase behavior of fluids in narrow pores on a molecular level, are necessary. Thus, treatments such as the Density Functional Theory (DFT) or methods of molecular simulation (Monte Carlo Simulation (MC), Molecular Dynamics (MD)) provide a much more accurate approach for pore size analysis. To overcome the above mentioned problems associated with zeolite characterization, Quantachrome introduced in 21 a new method for micropore analysis based on Nonlocal Density Functional Theory (NLDFT). This NLDFT method is designed for pore size characterization of zeolitic materials with cylindrical pores using high-resolution low-pressure argon adsorption isotherms at 87.3 K. The materials covered include zeolites (e.g., silicalite, ZSM- 5), catalysts, separation membranes, sensors and other zeolite-based systems. Recently (i.e, in 24) Quantachrome introduced another method, which is applicable to zeolitic materials with spherical pores, i.e. cage-like strucures (e.g., Faujasite, 13X). It is important to note that in case of zeolites consisting of cage-like structures, the position of the pore filling step is controlled by the adsorption potential exerted by the cage. Hence, from an analysis of argon or nitrogen adsorption data obtained on zeolites with cage-like structures one can calculate the cage diameter, but cannot determine the width of the aperture (which is however often erroneously reported in the literature). Many zeolites contain also secondary mesoporosity, i.e., also with regard to this aspect it is advantageous to apply NLDFT based methods because they allow to obtain a accurate pore size analysis over the complete micro/mesopore size range. This is demonstrated in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows high-resolution argon adsorption isotherms on zeolitic catalyst ZSM-5, mesoporous MCM-41 material [3], and the combined isotherm on a mixed micro-mesoporous material, containing 5% of ZSM-5 and 5% of MCM-41. Fig. 3 reveals the NLDFT pore size distributions of the combined material (by applying a zeolite/silica hybrid NLDFT (Page 2 of 5) PN 59-27

3 kernel based on a cylindrical pore model; see Table 1), which shows two distinct groups of pores: the micropores of ZSM-5 and the mesopores of MCM-41. The reported mode pore diameter of ZSM-5 zeolite obtained from structural considerations is nm, which agrees very well with the pore size distribution obtained from Ar adsorption by the NLDFT method. The MCM-41 material is non-microporous (for details see ref. [4]) and the pore size obtained by independent methods is 3.2 nm, in excellent agreement with the NLDFT method. Further, as shown in figure 4, the NLDFT-fit to the experimental adsorption isotherm is excellent Adsorption, [mmol/g] MCM-41 ZSM P/Po Figure 2. High-resolution argon adsorption isotherms at 87.3 K on MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve, ZSM-5 zeolite and a mixed mixed micro-mesoporous material, containing 5% of ZSM-5 and 5% MCM- 41 [4]. Figure 3 NLDFT pore size distribution obtained from argon adsorption at 87.3 K on a mixed micro-mesoporous material, containing 5% of ZSM-5 and 5% MCM- 41 [4] (Page 3 of 5) PN 59-27

4 Adsorption, [mmol/g] experimental NLDFT fit P/Po Figure 4. Comparison of NLDFT fit and experimental argon adsorption isotherm on a mixed micro-mesoporous material, containing 5% of ZSM-5 and 5% MCM- 41 [4] References [1] S. Lowell, J.E. Shields, M.A. Thomas, M. Thommes, Characterization of Porous Solids and Powders: Surface Area, Pore Size and Density, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 24 [2 ] P. I Ravikovitch, G.L. Haller, A.V. Neimark, Advcances in Colloid and Interface Science 76-77, 23 (1998) [3] Neimark A.V., Ravikovitch P.I., Grün M., Schüth F. and Unger K.K, J. Coll. Interface Sci., 27, 159 (1998) [4] (a) P.I Ravikovitch, and A.V Neimark (21), personal communication; (b) M. Thommes, In Particle Technology News 4, Quantachrome, Florida (21) Hardware requirements to perform argon adsorption measurements at liquid argon temperature are minimal: you need only a special thermistor for coolant (liquid argon) level control. (Page 4 of 5) PN 59-27

5 A summary (and a short description) of NLDFT methods as available in Quantachrome AUTOSORB Software Version 1.5 is given in Table 1. NLDFT / GCMC (Monte Carlo) Kernel File NLDFT N 2 - carbon kernel at 77 K based on a slitpore model NLDFT N 2 silica equilibrium transition kernel at 77 K, based on a cylindrical pore model NLDFT N 2 - silica adsorption branch kernel at 77 K, based on a cylindrical pore model NLDFT Ar zeolite/silica equilibrium transition kernel at 87 K based on a cylindrical pore model NLDFT Ar-zeolite/silica adsorption branch kernel at 87 K based on a cylindrical pore model NLDFT Ar-zeolite/silica equilibrium transition kernel based on a spherical pore model (pore diameter < 2 nm) and cylindrical pore model (pore diameter > 2 nm) NLDFT Ar-zeolite/silica adsorption branch kernel at 87 K based on a spherical pore model (pore diameter < 2 nm) and cylindrical pore model (pore diameter > 2 nm) NLDFT Ar - carbon kernel at 77 K based on a slitpore model NLDFT - CO 2 - carbon kernel at 273 K based on a slit-pore model GCMC CO 2 - carbon kernel at 273 K based on a slit-pore model Applicable Pore Examples Diameter Range.35nm-3 nm Carbons with slit-like pores, such as activated carbons and others..35nm- 1nm Siliceous materials such as some silica gels, porous glasses, MCM-41, SBA- 15, MCM-48 and other adsorbents which show type H1 sorption hysteresis..35nm-1nm Siliceous materials such as some controlled pore glasses, MCM-41, SBA-15, MCM-48, and others. Allows to obtain an accurate pore size distribution even in case of type H2 sorption hysteresis.35nm -1nm Zeolites with cylindrical pore channels such as ZSM5, Mordenite, and mesoporous siliceous materials (e.g., MCM-41, SBA-15, MCM-48, some porous glasses and silica gels which show type H1 sorption hysteresis)..35nm-1nm Zeolites with cylindrical pore channels such as ZSM5, Mordenite etc., and mesoporous siliceous materials such as MCM-41, SBA-15, MCM-48, porous glasses some silica gels etc). Allows to obtain an accurate pore size distribution even in case of H2 sorption hysteresis..35nm-1nm Zeolites with cage-like structures such as Faujasite, 13X etc., and mesoporous silica materials (e.g., MCM-41, SBA-15, porous glasses, some silica gels which show H1 sorption hysteresis)..35nm-1nm Zeolites with cage-like structures such as Faujasite, 13X, and mesoporous silica materials (e.g., MCM-41, SBA- 15, controlled-pore glasses and others). Allows to obtain an accurate pore size distribution even in case of H2 sorption hysteresis..35 nm - 7 nm Carbons with slit-like pores, such as.35nm-1.5 nm Carbons with slit-like pores, such as.35nm-1.5 nm Carbons with slit-like pores, such as (Page 5 of 5) PN 59-27