Deleterious effects of non-framework Al species on the catalytic performance of ZSM-5 crystals synthesized at low temperature

ZSM-5 is one of the most widely studied and commercially relevant zeolites. It is also one of the few zeolites that can be synthesized in an all-silica form (silicalite-1), and thus serves as a prototype for mechanistic studies of zeolite crystallization. The MFI framework of ZSM-5 is amenable to a broad range of synthesis conditions, which has led to numerous discoveries of materials with unique physicochemical properties. The exceptional performance of ZSM-5 among zeolite catalysts, coupled with its facile synthesis, has given rise to its widespread use in industrial applications. In this study we highlight the challenges associated with synthesizing ZSM-5 at low temperature (ca. 100 °C), which is often necessary to generate small crystals (