Comparative Study of Cu/ZSM-5 Catalysts Synthesized by Two Ion-Exchange Methods

Abstract

As catalysis is one of the pillars of green chemistry, this work aimed at continuing the development of synthesized catalysts under controlled conditions that allow the attainment of materials with the best physicochemical properties for the process for which they were designed. Based on this, the synthesis, characterization, and comparison of copper-based catalysts supported on ammonium and acidic ZSM-5-type zeolite by two ion exchange methods, liquid phase and solid state, are presented. The catalysts obtained were characterized by SEM/EDS, FTIR, XRD, and TPR to study the effect of the synthesis method on the physicochemical properties of each catalyst. The SEM/EDS results showed a homogeneous distribution of copper in the zeolite and the TPR led to determining the temperature ranges for the reduction of Cu2+ → Cu+ → Cu0. Furthermore, the X-ray results showed no modification of the structure of the zeolite after ion exchange, heat treatment, and TPR analysis.