Nucleation and growth of zeolite MFI-Type structure on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for the preparation of magnetically separable nanocatalysts

• Grant number: 18/25649-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Ernesto Antonio Urquieta Gonzalez
• Grantee: Diógenes Honorato Piva
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50249-8 - Green chemistry: sustainable synthetic methods employing benign solvents, safer reagents, and bio-renewable feedstock, AP.PCPE

Abstract

Core@shell structures are considered the main platforms for the development of magnetically separable zeolites. Despite the current advances in the synthesis of zeolitic core@shell material, the processes involved during the nucleation and growth of zeolitic shell on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles cores still remains poorly understood. The lack of studies of these processes has hindered the preparation of zeolitic core@shell material with controlled shell thickness, containing a single core and absence of the formation of core-free zeolite particles. Therefore, this project aims to study of the aspects involved during the nucleation and crystal growth stage of zeolites with MFI-type structure (ZSM-5 and silicalite-1) on the surface of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The synthesis procedure will be performed in a clear solution and the microstructural evolution investigated using different characterization techniques (XRD, ATR/FTIR, SEM, HRTEM, DLS, NMR). A fundamental understanding of the crystallization mechanism will be essential for the development core@shell zeolite nanostructures with superparamagnetic feature for future applications for valorizing bio-derivative platform molecules and other organic synthesis reaction in liquid medium. Furthermore, the present project, that will be carried out at Centre of Excellence for Research in Sustainable Chemistry (CERSusChem), should contribute to the improvement of the current in situ technique for preparation o of core@shell zeolite structure.