Effect of the Synthesis Parameters on the Physicochemical Properties of NaY Zeolite with Faujasite Structure

NaY material belongs to the iconic family of zeolites with a Faujasite structure. These microporous aluminosilicate materials possess exceptional properties, making them essential in various applications, e.g., catalysis, gas sorption/separation, and ion exchange. In particular, NaY zeolite is a good model material for teaching fundamental concepts in crystallography, surface chemistry, and adsorption phenomena and a stimulating literature review topic for students. NaY zeolite can be easily synthesized by students at the laboratory scale. Its preparation and characterization offer valuable learning opportunities by linking theoretical knowledge with practical applications in Materials Science and/or Chemical Engineering courses. In this work, we propose a very simple but highly reproducible synthesis method for obtaining a highly crystalline NaY material. This flexible approach enables undergraduate students to investigate the influence of both the crystallization time and temperature on the outcome of NaY synthesis. By combining standard characterization techniques like powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, students acquire hands-on experience in Materials characterization, learn about the complementarity and limitations of the different characterization methods, and strengthen their knowledge in Inorganic Chemistry, Materials Science, and Analytical Chemistry.