The effect of temperature on the pulsed current processing behaviour and structural characteristics of porous ZSM-5 and zeolite Y monoliths

Hierachically porous monoliths of ZSM-5 and Y zeolites have been prepared by pulsed current processing (PCP). The densification behaviour and structural characteristics during rapid thermal treatment of the zeolites have been determined and related to the influence of the Si:Al ratio on the thermal stability of the zeolites. Monoliths of macroscopic shape can be prepared with an insignificant loss of surface area and micropore volume when the PCP-treatment was performed at temperatures below a critical maximum PCP temperature (TPCP). Full-profile fittings of the powder X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the lattice strain of zeolite Y increases rapidly above the critical TPCP while the ZSM-5 zeolites undergo a phase transition from orthorhombic to monoclinic. The use of a novel ceramic processing route for the production of the zeolite monoliths that do not significantly influence the structural characteristics and surface area of the starting materials has a potential to be of importance in catalysis and gas separation applications.