Physico-chemical characterisation of zirconium-based self-bonded ETS-4 pellets

This paper reports a study of ETS-4 based self-bonded pellets, with several amounts of Zr moles in initial gel. The following gel composition is used: xNa(2)O-0.6KF-1.28xHCl-yZrO(2)-0.2TiO(2)-1.49SiO(2)-39.5H(2)O with 0.5 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 2.5 and 0.015 a parts per thousand currency sign y a parts per thousand currency sign 0.12. The characterisation of obtained samples is carried out by XRD, thermal analysis, EDX and SEM. The results point out the possibility to synthesise ETS-4 zeotype with Zr in self-bonded pellets form. The importance of the amount and composition of the amorphous phase is underlined as binder of the ETS-4 crystals. Its amount is bigger at the outer face of the pellets, showing that the crystallisation occurred from the inner to the external face. Zirconium replaces titanium in the structure and its presence reinforces the mechanical resistance of the pellets.