Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Three preparation methods of ZSM-5 supported copper were studied. The first sample is the mechanical mixture of CuCl2·2H2O with NaZSM-5 (Cu+ZSM-5), the second sample is the mechanical mixture of CuCl2·2H2O with NaZSM-5 followed by microwave treatment (Cu/ZSM-5), and the third sample is copper ion exchanged with NaZSM-5 (CuZSM-5). All the samples were characterized by XRD, DTA, and n-hexane adsorption. Cu+ZSM-5 samples showed characteristic XRD peaks of both NaZSM-5 and CuCl2·2H2O and Cu/ZSM-5 samples showed only NaZSM-5 XRD peaks; these results suggest that CuCl2·2H2O no longer exists in the crystalline state in Cu/ZSM-5 samples, possibly in a highly dispersed state. DTA experiments showed that Cu+ZSM-5 samples did exhibit the melting point of CuCl2 and Cu/ZSM-5 did not. Furthermore, as compared with Cu+ZSM-5 and CuZSM-5, the n-hexane adsorption on Cu/ZSM-5 samples require higher n-hexane pressure to reach the saturated adsorption; these results suggest that the copper salt has entered the zeolite channels during microwave treatment, resulting in the change of channel circumstance for ZSM-5 zeolite. All these results suggest that microwave technique is a potential method for preparing highly dispersed metal salts in the channels or cages of zeolites.