Effect of different TEAOH/DEA combinations on SAPO-34’s synthesis and catalytic performance

SAPO-34 molecular sieves were synthesized hydrothermally using different combinations of amine agents [i.e., tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) and diethylamine (DEA)]. XRD indicated the good crystallinity directed by single or mixed template for CHA structure. The morphology of crystals from SEM photograph was shown to be cubic shape of typical SAPO-34, but distinct in crystal size, increasing from 0.3–0.8 to 3.1–9.1 μm with the amount of DEA in the gel. NH3-TPD showed similar acid properties for SAPO-34 with TEAOH content from 1.0 to 0.1, but strong acidity synthesized with DEA only. 29Si MAS NMR demonstrated that Si species in framework with single DEA existed in large size of silicon islands, whereas dispersed finely in siliceous islands of smaller size with remarkable Si (nAl, 4-nSi, 0 < n < 4) environments in the samples using mixed template. In the methanol conversion to olefins over different SAPO-34 catalysts, the sample prepared with the mixtures of 50%TEAOH and 50%DEA showed the longest lifetime and high selectivity to C2=~C3=.