Substitution of non-skeleton aluminum ions in faujasite Y zeolite by ion exchange method

Conventional methods for synthesizing hierarchical zeolite have led to complicated economic and environmental issues due to the requirement of a large amount of acid/base solution, high energy, and expensive starting materials. Accordingly, considerable efforts have been made to develop green route synthesis of hierarchical zeolite including steam-assisted conversion, gel-like-solid phase method, salinization, and recycling of mother liquor [۱] as they are reported to promote a green and facile approach for the synthesis of hierarchical zeolites [۲]. The mother liquor is not only used for the synthesis of zeolites but also for different treatment processes of zeolites. The insight into the presence of the various ions in the recycling of the mother liquor and the type of process is important. The purpose of this work is to investigate the role of the Al ions contained in mother liquor in the removal of Sodium and Rare earth in zeolite Y. XRF was used for elemental analysis of total Al۲O۳, Na۲O, Re۲O۳, and XRD was used for structural Al۲O۳. The results showed that RE۲O۳ completely substituted with Al ions, and Na۲O remained to ۲۰% after ion exchange.