Expanding Applications of Zeolite Imidazolate Framework: Synthesis of Zeolite A-ZIF-8 Composite and Investigation of its Properties

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are permanently microporous materials with crystalline structures synthesized by assembling metal ions with organic ligands in appropriate solvents. MOFs are typically characterized by large internal surface areas, uniform and tunable cavities [1].One particularly interesting category of MOFs is the zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) [2]. ZIFs, based on an imidazolate linker and metallic nodes, can adopt symmetrical porous structures analogous to zeolites. For example, ZIF-8 has been synthesized from 2-methylimidazole and a zinc precursor in the sodalite form [3].In this study, Zeolite A-ZIF-8 was synthesized by inclusion of Zn2+ into the cages of zeolite A followed by solvo-thermal linkage of 2-methylimidazolate (MeIM) moiety.The obtained composite was characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). SEM imaging showed that nano-sized ZIF-8 crystallites were successfully formed inside and over the surface of zeolite A. Meanwhile, EDS analysis showed presence of all of the anticipated elements in the sample. FTIR analysis and XRD patterns also approved correctness of the expected structure. Potential application of this newly devised composite is currently under investigation in our laboratory