Synthesis of Zeolite LTN-( SOD ) Self-Supporting Membranes from SiO 2-Rich Industrial Waste

Synthesis of zeolite LTN (“Linde Type N”) was investigated under insertion of a SiO2-rich filtration residue (FR) from waste water cleaning of the silane production. A new synthesis procedure was therefore developed applying a flotation mechanism with the aim to grow LTN in form of thin membrane like sheets. Preparation starts with preactivation of FR by slurrying first in alkaline solution, followed by an addition of aluminate solution and citric acid. The latter was added as suitable chelating agent for the initiation of the flotation process. In the course of these experiments, we succeeded in synthesizing zeolite LTN with more or less zeolite SOD as byproduct in the form of a stable compact membrane-like layer at low temperature of 60 ̊C. The crystallization was performed under isotherm static conditions in an open reaction system without addition of organic templates as structure directing agents (OSDA’s). FR was utilized as a total substitute of sodium silicate in all experiments and an expansive pre-treatment procedure like calcinations was not needed. Furthermore, membrane formation with LTN of usual synthesis needs chemically functionalized supports. In contrast self-supporting membranous LTN layers were grown for the first time in the present study.


Introduction
Zeolites are microporous materials, widespread in industry as molecular sieves, ion exchangers and catalysts, mostly applied as polycrystalline powders or in pellet form [1]. Beside insertion of zeolites as dense packages even their use in form of membranes becomes more and more important within the last years.
Al 2 O 3 ) and first a functionalizing step of the support material by chemical treatment is necessary for a formation of sufficient dense zeolite sheets in the subsequent hydrothermal crystallization process.The hydrothermal synthesis in autoclaves is the nearly exclusively used procedure for the crystallization of the membranes on the support materials.Larger synthesis periods or several synthesis steps are necessary to produce layers of required quality [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].
While primarily membranes of the structural types LTA and FAU came to application, membranes of other zeolite structures are of increasingly interest and modified methods of synthesis were developed.Newly membranes of small pore zeolites like zeolite SOD were tested as water sorbents in chemical processes for cleaning of methanol or dimethylether and dimethylcarbonate [9].Insertion for water desalination [10] [11], esterification-coupling reactions [12] and the H 2 /CO 2 separation during water gas production from coal [13] are further future applications of small-pore zeolites.
Considering those new applications of zeolite SOD, other framework types with small pores will be centered in future.In the present work we study the synthesis of membranous thin sheets of polycrystalline LTN zeolite.The LTN type zeolites own a complex framework whose topology can be described by different models as discussed in summary in [14].Beside the description in form of the two substructures of SOD and KFI [15] [16], the topology even results from a linkage of CAN cages and double six rings D6R [17].All these different models lead to a structure with distorted α-cages (grc-units [18]) known from the LTA framework in undistorted form [1]. The LTN framework exhibits no canal system and its largest opening forms a 6-ring, as in the SOD structure type, because the larger eight-rings of the distorted grc-units of LTN are blocked by the six-rings of the adjoining cages [19].Zeolite LTN (also termed Linde Type N [15] or NaZ-21 [20]) has one of the largest unit cells of all zeolites known up to now (cubic, a 0 = 35.6Å, SG: Fd3-m [21]).The first technical application of zeolite LTN is an insertion as catalyst, as the creation of acid sites inside the LTN framework results in a zeolite with ideal relation between weak acid sites and medium to strong acid sites and the expansive rare earth doped ultrastable Y-zeolite, widely inserted in catalysis, can be substituted by this modified much cheaper LTN-material [22].
Zeolite LTN was first synthesized by the template method under use of the organic structure directing additive (OSDA) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMA) [23].Later even a template free synthesis was developed [24] and poly-Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering crystalline material with a particle size up to 3 µm could be observed under synthesis by microwave heating.This synthesis was successful even under insertion of colloidal silica (LUDOX from Aldrich [24]) instead of sodium silicate solution.Even SiO 2 -rich powders of industrial wastes like, ashes, filtration residues, slag and many others, are suitable educts for zeolite synthesis, if their chemical composition is without elements or components being harmful to the environment, as demonstrated in many experimental works [25]- [37].
During our previous study on zeolite synthesis the insertion of a nanosized powdered silica-rich filtration residue FR obtained from waste water reconditioning of the silane production was even found to be very suitable for zeolite crystallization under open system conditions at low temperature [38] [39] [40].
In the present study, we describe a modified reaction pathway for zeolite LTN synthesis under insertion of this silica-rich filtration residue FR.Our main aim was not only synthesis of LTN zeolite in polycrystalline powder form but also the preparation of membrane-like zeolite sheets.Therefore we describe here a method of particle separation by flotation, generated by the addition of citric acid as a chelating agent.An enrichment of the reactants at the surface of the reaction volume is thus reached with a decisive influence on the crystallization.

Starting Materials
The Si-rich filtration residue (FR) was kindly provided together with chemical analysis data from the Federal Institute for Materials and Testing, BAM-Berlin.These data, obtained by optical emissions spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES) under use of an iCAP 6000 device (Thermo Scientific) are summarized in Table 1.Our X-ray powder investigation of FR revealed its mainly amorphous character, beside a very low amount of calcite.The material consists of nano-particles.Only some agglomerated grains reach dimensions not larger than 1 µm.Beside FR as Si-source sodium aluminate, Riedel-de Haën 13,404, sodium hydroxyde, Merck 1.06467 and citric acid, Fluka 27,490, were used as further educts of our syntheses.

Experimental Conditions
From the literature overview [41] [42], one can find out that the synthesis parameters temperature ~100˚C and time ~1 h are often used for LTN.Besides temperature and time the concentration fitting for the LTN formation Si/Al-ratio in the educts amounted 1 and the NaOH concentration varied in the prevailing case at about 8 M/l.On the basis of these parameters we modified the synthesis system by inserting an additive for initiation of a flotation process with the aim to reach a particle transport in direction of the surface of the reaction beaker for crystallization of membrane-like zeolite sheets.We selected citric acid as chelating agent.The deprotonation reaction of this carbonic acid yields to formation of carboxyl groups according to reaction (1): These groups are complexing agents for Al-and Si ions [43] and micelles (also termed globules [44] [45]) will be formed.Air bubbles attach these complexes and cause a particle uplift, i.e. a flotation effect [46].The resulting concentration gradient between the bottom and the top of the reaction vessel rules the formation of a zeolite sheet.
The flotation process is ruled by the specific boundary surface energies between solid (micelle) liquid phase on the micelle surface and the gas bubbles (air bubbles).The adhesion strength of the bubbles on a wetted solid surface is described by Equation ( 2) [46]: where: A: adhesion strength; ΔO: contact surface; Δσ: difference of the specific boundary surface energies before and after adhesion of the bubbles and can be calculated according to Equation (3) [46]: with σ solid/gas : specific boundary surface energy between solid and gas; σ gas/liquid : specific boundary surface energy between gas and liquid; σ solid/liquid : specific boundary surface energy between solid and liquid.The adhesion strength A is as stronger as larger Δσ will be.Young's contact angle equation (Equation ( 4), [46]) provides a further gauge for the degree of adhesion ( ) where: δ: contact angle.The adhesion strength A is as larger, as larger both the contact angle δ and σ gas/fluid are [46].Under consideration of the insertion of citric acid as complexing additive for initiating and ruling this flotation process, we developed a modified synthesis concept consisting of preparation and combination of three solutions: solution 1) serves for preactivation of the FR in alkaline medium.Solution 2) is the acid additive solution and solution 3) the aluminate component.
Three syntheses presented here, all under insertion of three separate produced solutions, but synthesis temperature, synthesis time, water volume and NaOH-concentration were varied.The experimental conditions are summarized Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering in Table 2.
The synthesis batches consist of a mixture of the three separate produced solutions as follows: Synthesis The solutions were mixed in the order 1 -3 (ascending order) in a beaker glass.
Crystallization was performed by heating in a cabinet dryer without stirring for temperatures and times, given in Table 2.

Characterization
All products were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS).X-ray powder diffraction was performed using a Bruker D4 Endeavor diffractometer (Bragg-Brentano geometry, monochromatic CuKα radiation, 2 Theta range 3˚ -85˚, step width 0.03˚ 2 Theta, measuring time of 1 sec per step).The WinXPow software (STOE) and the powder diffraction file [47] were used for data evaluation.For a better overview on the powder patterns each pattern was shown as expanded plot in the 2 Theta range of 5˚ -50˚ as usually done in the IZA collection of simulated powder patterns for zeolites [48].
SEM investigations were performed on a JEOL JSM-6390A SEM at an acceleration voltage of 30 kV respectively to characterize the morphology and homogeneity of the samples.The composition of the products was estimated by EDXS.The SEM was therefore equipped with a Bruker Quantax-200 EDX system and an X flash detector 410-M.

Results and Discussion
The XRD patterns of the products are summarized in Figure 1.Analysis results were obtained on the basis of the collection of simulated zeolite powder Data [48], the powder diffraction file PDF [47] and the zeolite structure information atlas [21].The reaction products of all three syntheses are summarized in Table 3.The products accrued in two main sequences as illustrated in Figure 2 in the lower and upper part of the reaction beaker.Thus it was decided to describe these synthesis products ("a" and "b", Table 3) in separate sections.
The following sequences were observed: -In the lower area of the reaction beaker: here fine disperse or compact polycrystalline zeolite SOD was found beside more or less LTN (samples 1a, 2a and 3a; Table 3); -In the upper area: LTN and small amounts of SOD in membranous form was deposited (samples 1b, 2b and 3b; Table 3).The further investigations of these samples revealed that the sheets consist of 2 or 3 thin sublayers (see upper layer (b) in Figure 2 with its top-, middle-and bottom sequence).

Samples 1a and 1b
The synthesis product of experiment 1 consists of grey material in the lower part of the reaction beaker (1a) and a stable white sheet in the upper part (1b).The X-ray powder patterns of both products show LTN as a main phase (PDF Table 3. Reaction products.27-1405) beside portions of SOD.The difference between the samples 1a and 1b persists in the amount and type of SOD.The sample 1a of the lower area of the reaction beaker, shows a larger part of SOD and the whole amount of SOD is hydrosodalite (PDF 42-216; Figure 1), whereas product 1b contains more moderate parts of SOD, but in form of basic sodalite (PDF 42-215).The white sheet-like product 1b, formed in the upper part of the beaker glass was 3 mm thick and showed a high mechanical stability and firmness, so that it was possible to take the whole layer out of the beaker.Only a detailed SEM analysis of the sheet revealed, that it was built up of three sublayers with LTN crystals of different size (see SEM analysis below and the data in Table 3).
The SEM investigation of sample 1a (Figure 3 A further detailed investigation of sample 1b presents the complicated conformation of the upper layer (Figure 3, SEM-image below).It was found out that this white layer is built up by a stacking of three sublayers.The borders of the sequences are well recognizable as step-shaped breaks.The upper sequence lies on the right and on top in the SEM-image (Figure 3

Samples 2a and 2b
Synthesis No. 2 was realized under milder conditions (60˚C) and longer synthesis time with the aim to suppress the crystallization of SOD.As in the experiment No. 1 again a separation of the product in a grey sample in the lower part (2a) and a sheet-like white one in the upper part (2b) of the reaction beaker was observed.Even for this product 2b SEM analysis indicate the formation of two sublayers (instead of three as in case of sample 1b, see SEM analysis below and the data in Table 3).the main phase, the white sheet-like sample 2b consists of LTN as main phase and a lower part of SOD, but in form of basic sodalite (see Figure 1).SEM images of products 2a and 2b are summarized in Figure 4. Sample 2a (image on top of Figure 4) exhibits the cocrystallization of SOD and LTN in the product of the lower part of the reaction glass.The LTN admixture is grown together with aggregates of SOD-crystallites.The LTN cubes are 2 μ and tabular-shaped and SOD crystals are 1 -2 μ big.
The chemical composition (area analysis of the SEM detail of Figure 4

Samples 3a and 3b
As experiment No. 2 failed to suppress SOD formation in experiment No. 3 the synthesis batch was further modified by slight reduction of the NaOH concentration as a further attempt to reduce the crystallization of the byproduct SOD.
As in synthesis No. 1 and No. 2 again a grey sample formed in the upper part (sample 3a) and a white sheet-like product was observed at the top of the reaction beaker (sample 3b).This sample was now thinner and more fragile, compared with the sheets of experiments 1 and 2. The latter was again composed of two sublayers, as demonstrated by SEM investigation (see above) but an exact spatial separation of the two sublayers and their preparation for SEM analysis was thereby more complicated.
The X-ray powder patterns of samples 3a and b are given in Figure 1.Here now only hydrosodalite SOD (PDF 42-216) was formed in the grey material of lower part of the reaction beaker (sample 3a).Again the growth of LTN (PDF 27-1405) and basic SOD (PDF 42-215) were analyzed in sample 3b, the latter only in small quantity.

Discussion
Our modifications of the classical zeolite synthesis method arose in crystallization series above and down in the reaction volume and membrane-like layers consisting of LTN as main phase and basic SOD as minor byproduct occurred and could be separated from the upper part of the reaction beaker.The changes of synthesis temperature (60˚C) and prolonged synthesis times (several days) alone are not sufficient enough to obtain the membrane like crystalline zeolite sheets.Thus our modified synthesis system is further based on the fact, that a nanosized silica source (FR) is used and preactivated in NaOH by slurrying.Beside an aluminate solution a third component is required.This is the additive citric acid, acting as chelating agent under generation of a flotation process, causing an enrichment of the reacting agents in the upper part of the reaction volume with a decisive influence on the crystallization.The deprotonation reaction of the citric acid leads to carboxyl groups.They arrange themselves around central ions.Complex formation in particular with aluminum [43], however, also with silicon result in formation of micelles (globules [44] [45]) and the adhesion of air bubbles are causing a particle uplift known as flotation processes [46].The resulting chemical gradient between the surface and the ground of the reaction beaker glass leads to the formation of stable layers of the crystallites under static isotherm conditions.
However, concerning results of this work and in comparison to investigations [49] [50], the kind of the ascending force mechanism of the components necessary for membrane formation must be further characterized for the improvement of the method, presented here.There are two hypotheses to explain this interaction of particles in liquid and gas bubbles [46]: -"The immediate linking of gas bubbles on the particle surface of the FR or rather a developing electrically loaded double layer;" -"An assembly with activation bridges" is also possible, taking the finest particle size of the FR into account providing very high chemically active surfac-es with optimal conditions for a high chemisorption rate.Further investigations are necessary to clarify this mechanism in more detail.

Conclusions
In this work, we demonstrated the cocrystallization of LTN and SOD zeolites in membranous form.It was observed, that products arose in crystallization series above and down in the reaction volume.Therefore modified synthesis conditions were found to be responsible, like using a nanosized silica source (FR), preactivated in NaOH, before the gel formation starts by addition of sodium aluminate.
The main finding of the experiments was the addition of citric acid as chelating agent under generation of a flotation process.An enrichment of the agents in the upper part of the reaction volume with a decisive influence on the crystallization was thereby obtained.
The layer like product, consisting of LTN as main phase and basic SOD as minor byproduct, could be mechanically separated from the upper part of the reaction beaker.Further modifications of the synthesis method are required to optimize this product.The influence of synthesis temperature, time and the adhesion process on temporal and spatial development of the zeolite crystallization in subsequences needs future attention.Maybe the procedure can be inserted for the production of the membranes of other zeolite types.A transferability of the results on syntheses with pure chemicals instead of FR as a Si-source should also be studied in future experiments.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Right: Scheme of the distribution of the products (a) and (b) and the sublayers of the products (b).Left: Image of the typical sheet-like product formed in the upper layer of syntheses 1(b) -3(b).
, SEM-image at the top) shows cubic LTN crystals and SOD phase.The LTN crystals exhibit a size of 0.5 to 5 μ and show strong intergrowth and aggregates.SOD crystallized in tabular isometric crystallites and even forms agglomerates.The size of the crystallites is 0.5 μ and smaller.The EDX measurements (area measurement of Figure 3(a)) yield to the following chemical composition (Wt%): SiO 2 : 42.7; Al 2 O 3 : 33.1; Na 2 O: 21.0; CaO: 2.9; Cl: 0.3.The Si/Al-ratio is 1.1.Point analysis on LTN crystals and SOD crystals (not shown) indicate that the Ca and Cl parts from the FR are mainly concentrated in the SOD-zeolite and hardly in the LTN phase.The SEM investigation of sample 1b shows well developed, sharp edged cubic crystals of LTN which form a polycrystalline layer by strong intergrowth (Figure 3, SEM-image in the middle).The EDX-area analysis of these crystals proved the following chemical composition (Wt%): SiO 2 : 43.4; Al 2 O 3 : 34.7; Na 2 O: 21.9.The Si/Al-ratio was ~1.1.
, image below) and consists of LTN of about 1 μ and appears with columnar texture.The intermediate layer appears again with columnar LTN crystals of 3.5 μ.The big LTN crystals (approx.7 -10 μ) left down in the image belong to the third layer.The chemical composition of these large crystals amounts (Wt%): SiO 2 : 43.6; Al 2 O 3 : 34.3; Na 2 O: 22.1.The Si/Al-ratio is 1.1.
on top) amounts (Wt%): SiO 2 : 42.2; Al 2 O 3 : 34.1; Na 2 O: 22.4; CaO: 1.1; Cl: 0.2.The Si/Al-ratio is 1.0.The Ca and Cl parts from FR again enriched in SOD, as already observed in sample 1a.The SEM images of the sheet-like sample 2b, formed in the upper part of the reaction beaker are shown in Figure 4 (image in the middle and below).The cubic crystallites of LTN show intergrowths and aggregates.SOD-zeolite forms spherical intergrowths of numerous strip-shaped crystals.EDXS (area analysis of the detail of Figure 4, middle) presents the chemical composition (Wt%): SiO 2 : 41.6; Al 2 O 3 : 35.1;Na 2 O: 23.3.The Si/Al-ratio is 1.1.The SEM image below in Figure 4 presents the assembly of double sequence of sample 2b.The upper subsequence consists of widespread and strong intergrowth of 6 μ large LTN crystals where as bigger LTN crystals (10 to 20 μ) and SOD in form of about 10 μ spherical intergrowths form the lower subsequence.The chemical analysis (Wt%) of the sample 2b is: SiO 2 : 40.8;Al 2 O 3 : 34.0; Na 2 O: 25.2.The Si/Al-ratio is again about 1.1.

Figure 5
Figure 5 summarizes SEM images of samples 3a and 3b.The image of sample 3a (Figure 5, on top) proved SOD and LTN.The LTN admixture is an impurity because fragments of LTN were fallen down on sample 3a during the mechanical

Figure 5 (
Figure 5 (SEM images in the middle and below) presents the complicated construction of the white layer sample 3b which exists at least of two subsequences.The upper sequence with a LTN fragment is shown on the image in the middle of Figure 5.The small (1 -2 μ) LTN crystals form here a tabular layer on which rare, strip-shaped SOD crystals grow.The lower image of Figure 5 shows the whole sheet of sample 3b in the cross section.LTN and SOD can be distinguished in the lower part.The cubic crystallites of LTN show intergrowth, aggregates and twins.Their size amounts 10 -20 μ.Zeolite SOD occurs as long strip-shaped crystals (Figure 5, both SEM images for sample 3b), with a length about 7 μ.The chemical analysis of the LTN (sample 3b) represents (Wt%): SiO 2 -43.0;Al 2 O 3 -34.5;Na 2 O-22.5.The Si/Al-ratio is 1.1.

Table 1 .
Chemical composition of FR.