Synthesis of Colloidal Suspensions of Zeolite ZSM-2

Discrete colloidal particles of zeolite ZSM-2 with crystal sizes less than 100 nm, in the form of aqueous suspensions, have been synthesized in tetramethylammonium (TMA)-aluminosilicate solutions in the presence of either lithium or a combination of lithium and sodium hydroxide. The well-crystallized ZSM-2 has a specific surface area of 781 m2/g after purification and removal of the organic base by calcination. Synthesis times (t) are as short as 3 < t < 12 h and in certain cases, less than 3 h, less than those previously reported in the literature. Prolonged hydrothermal treatment of sols in the presence of sodium cations (>12 h) results in the phase transformation of ZSM-2 to the nitrogeneous edingtonite zeolite (Li,Na)-E. The synthesis of nitrogeneous (Li,Na)-E is also favored by a high TMA content in conjunction with sodium, whereas synthesis of zeolite N-A is favored by a high sodium content. Furthermore, it is shown that colloidal suspensions of TMA sodalite with crystal sizes less than 40 nm are synthesized in the absence of alkali cations.