A hydrothermal synthesis of a 2-dimensional layered silicate followed by a transition to a 3-dimensional aluminosilicate zeolite

Abstract We present a study of aluminosilicate zeolite synthesis where the first crystalline product observed is layered. It then transforms with time to the zeolite SSZ-81. The reaction has two crystalline phases that precede the SSZ-81 formation because FAU zeolite is used as the Al source that, eventually, is incorporated into the final organo-aluminosilicate zeolite product. The course of events is followed by microscopy, XRD, changes in solution pH, product organic mass, and TGA. In addition, the reaction using a chromium-exchanged FAU was performed that then allowed for tracking the same changes using EDX analyses in the SEM.