Synthesis of nanocrystalline zeolite NaY by hydrothermal method and investigation of its structure and morphology

Zeolite FAU type-Y is one of the most studied framework of all zeolites, and has been used as catalysts for number of reactions in the refinery and petrochemical industry. In this research, nanocrystalline zeolite Y was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The crystal size of zeolite Y is influenced by temperature, aging time, alkalinity, and water content. The synthesized zeolite NaY is identified and characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Tell (BET), Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The mean crystallites size was measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and it was determined also by Rietveld's method using Scherrer's equation; with similar results estimated was about 50 nm.