Synthesis of FER Zeolite Using 4-(Aminomethyl)pyridine as Structure-directing Agent

This paper describes the synthesis of FER zeolite using commercially available 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine as organic structure-directing agent(OSDA). FER zeolites were prepared in mixtures with SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratios in a narrow range and the resultant products possessed a typical flake-shaped morphology. The crystallization of FER zeolite was tracked in order to better understand the formation mechanism and the products obtained at different crystallization time were systematically characterized using multiple techniques. It showed that a majority of Si atoms and nearly all the Al atoms transformed into the solid phase during the hydrothermal synthesis. The rearrangement of inorganic species gave rise to zeolitic 5-membered rings(5-MRs) and 6-membered rings(6-MRs). Consequently, FER zeolite crystals were formed by the consumption of amorphous bulky gel/solid matrix. Tracking the synthesis process of FER can help.