Are The General Laws of Crystal Growth Applicable to Zeolite Synthesis

Abstract The morphological evolution of mazzite has been observed in different chemical environments. Diverse synthesis conditions were obtained by modifying the nucleation/growth rate ratio and the reactivity of the source of aluminium. Mazzite crystals are spherical at their early stages. Later evolution brings to bundles of needles or to barrels and hexagonal prisms as a function of the initial supersaturation level. Morphology of mazzite has been observed also in different etching conditions. All the results appear to be in agreement with classical laws of growth and dissolution of crystals.