Ion Exchange of Na+ Ions with H+ Ions on ZSM-5 Zeolite Using Acetic Acid

ZSM-5 zeolites are primarily used in acid-catalyzed hydrocracking reactions in the petrochemical industry, and it is very important to ensure an adequate number of acidic sites for more efficient catalytic activity. This study investigated the possibility of exchanging sodium ions with hydrogen ions on ZSM-5 zeolite with a molar ratio of (SiO2/Al2O3 = 1000) using an ion-exchange process with acetic acid. By employing the XRD and FT-IR methods, along with chemical analysis of ZSM-5 zeolite samples, the influence of hydrogen ion concentration on the chemical composition and structural characteristics of ZSM-5 zeolite was monitored at different acid concentrations and exchange times. It was shown that ion exchange with acetic acid leads to a significant reduction in sodium content even with less concentrated solutions while maintaining the stability of the crystal structure of ZSM-5 (SiO2/Al2O3 = 1000) and a high degree of crystallinity.