Growth of Silicalite-1 by a Method Involving Separation of Reactants.

Two solutions of different concentration (that when mixed give rise to a common zeolite precursor gel) are separated by means of a laser-microperforated, 75 μm thick stainless steel sheet. During the hydrothermal synthesis, reactant diffusion from each side promotes crystallization of well-intergrown silicalite-1 crystals on each microperforation (ca. 80 μm in diameter). This method allows a micrometric control of the growth of the zeolitic material and has important advantages when compared with previous systems.