Fractal Dimension and Cobalt Leaching in CoX and CoA Zeolites

Cobalt-exchanged A and X zeolites are studied by infrared spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. Samples were irradiated and heated until the zeolite structure collapsed. We found that cobalt leaching depends on the fractal dimension regardless of the nature of the zeolite and the irradiation treatment. Heating and -irradiation destroys the zeolite network as found by infrared spectroscopy. The modifications in the 4R and 6R pore opening vibrations show that the cobalt sites are altered by thermal and irradiation treatments