Fabrication of Fine Zeolite with Improved Catalytic Properties by Bead Milling and Alkali Treatment

Zeolites with high external surface area allow diffusing reactants greater access to catalytically active sites, which has lead to interest in the preparation of nano-zeolites. In this study, a top-down approach has been used, first milling the zeolite to produce a fine powder. This technique can cause destruction of the outer portion of the zeolite framework, which deactivates the catalyst. To remedy this, the damaged part was removed using an alkaline solution after bead milling treatment. As a result, the designed zeolite powder yielded almost twice the amount of benzene compared with the raw zeolite when cumene was cracking into benzene and propylene.