Porous Estructure in Natural Zeolites from Puebla, Mexico

New locations of natural zeolites in Mexico are being reported recently. Concrete cases are those referred in Michoacan, Durango and Chihuahua, Mexico [1]. The potential of these natural zeolites locations is considerable; mainly if its application is contemplated in strategic items as treatment of polluted waters with heavy metals, or its application in atmospheric contamination for adsorb selectively COVs, CO2, NOx or SO2 from the atmospheric air [2]. In this work three natural zeolites locations are reported, the zeolites are located in the mixteca area of the state of Puebla, Mexico. Natural clinoptilolites depicting SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratios in the range 5-10 were analyzed through High Resolution Adsorption method. The Type I-IV hybrid shape of the N2 adsorption isotherms at 77.4 K on natural clinoptilolites indicated rather high micropore contents, though some amount of mesopores of slit-like geometry was also present. Micropore volumes and sizes were measured through S, t, and DA-plots, as well as by the NLDFT approach. Results indicated that clinoptilolite dealumination caused micropore opening and widening as well as the emergence of further slit-like mesopores; even though a slight structural collapse toward creation of mesopore zones occurred at high dealumination extents.

References

1. Hernandez, M. A., Corona, L. Gonzalez, A. I., Rojas, F., Lara, V. H., Silva.. F. 2005. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 44, 2908-2916.

2. Hernandez, M. A., Gonzalez, A. I., Rojas, F., Asomoza, M., Solıs, S., Portillo, R. 2007,

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 46, 3373-3381.