Downsizing the K-CHA zeolite by a postmilling-recrystallization method for enhanced base-catalytic performance

• Published in: New journal of chemistry 2016-01, Vol.4 (1), p.492-496
• Main Authors: Anand, Chokkalingam, Kaneda, Takeshi, Inagaki, Satoshi, Okamura, Sae, Sakurai, Hiroki, Sodeyama, Kyosuke, Matsumoto, Taiji, Kubota, Yoshihiro, Okubo, Tatsuya, Wakihara, Toru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/c5nj02052b

Herein, we report the preparation of potassium chabazite (K-CHA) zeolite nanocrystals with enhanced base-catalytic performance using a bead-milling and postmilling-recrystallization technique. Particles as small as 60 nm were produced by this approach. The surface area of the downsized K-CHA samples showed a significant improvement, increasing from 11 m 2 g −1 to 65 m 2 g −1 . The catalytic activity of the K-CHA nanocrystals in the Knoevenagel condensation of benzaldehyde with ethyl cyanoacetate was found to be twofold higher than that of the raw and the milled samples, achieving 80% product yield within a reaction time of 60 min. In addition, the enhanced catalytic behavior of the K-CHA nanocrystals, despite possessing low surface area relative to the intermediate milled sample, is attributable to the postmilling-recrystallization step, which played a pivotal role in restoring the crystallinity to around 80%. K-CHA nanocrystals prepared by a beadmilling and postmilling-recrystallization for high performance base-catalysis.