Mechanistic study on the synthesis of ZSM-5 from a layered silicate magadiite

The transformation mechanism for zeolite ZSM-5 from magadiite in the present of tetrapropylammonium cations has been investigated. It is found that the transformation subjects no complete or extensive dissolution of magadiite. What's more, the transformation is beginning with the formation of linear channels rather than the zig-zag channels. On the basis of these observations, we proposed that the magadiite layers were reconfigured into linear chains with the structure direction of tetrapropylammonium cations in the initial stage, and then zig-zag channels were constructed by connection of linear channels. In this way, the framework of ZSM-5 was formed.