Synthesis of zeolite NaY in anionic, cationic and nonionic emulsions

Zeolite NaY has been first synthesized respectively in the anionic, cationic and nonionic emulsions. The emulsion systems can accelerate zeolite NaY crystallization and in some cases retard the growth of impurity. Compared to the conventional zeolite NaY synthesized in the absence of emulsion, the emulsion-mediated NaY samples show different morphologies, larger surface areas and higher pore volumes depending on the charge nature of the surfactants involved. In particular, the NaY sample synthesized in the nonionic emulsion system presents a hierarchical pore structure with the highest BET surface area of 646.85 m2 g−1. The increase of surface areas for the NaY products made in emulsion media is due to the removal of emulsion components occluded in the pore structures through calcination. These features of the NaY zeolites synthesized in emulsion media, such as various product morphologies and high surface areas, may bestow the materials unique catalytic properties in their potential applications.