Unlocking the Potential of Hidden Sites in Faujasite: New Insights in a Proton Transfer Mechanism

Zeolite Y and its ultra-stabilized hierarchical derivative (USY) are the most widely used zeolite-based heterogeneous catalysts in oil refining, petrochemisty, other chemicals manufacturing. After almost 60 years of academic industrial research, their resilience is unique as no catalyst displaced them from key processes such FCC hydrocracking. The present study highlights difference leading to exceptional catalytic performance USY versus parent zeolite a multi-technique combining advanced spectroscopies (IR solid-state NMR) molecular modeling. results highlight hitherto unreported proton transfer involving inaccessible active sites sodalite cages that contributes USY.