Rapid synthesis of hierarchical nanosized SSZ-13 zeolite with excellent MTO catalytic performance

An efficient approach for the rapid synthesis of nanosized SSZ-13 zeolite with hierarchical structure was rationally developed by the combination of additive and seed induced crystallization. Compared with the conventional hydrothermal synthesis, the addition of additive and seed during the synthesis of SSZ-13 could significantly shorten the crystallization time from 144 h to 6 h. The obtained nanosized SSZ-13 with average crystal size of ca. 400 nm possessed abundant mesopores within the crystals. The crystal size could also be regulated in the range of 400–6000 nm by adjusting the crystallization time and the type and amount of the additives. UV–Vis results showed that the strong chelation ability of citric acid to Al ions as well as the formation of new metastable phase accelerated the crystallization rate in the synthesis of SSZ-13. The fast-synthesized hierarchical nanosized SSZ-13 exhibited prolonged catalytic lifetime and improved selectivity to light olefins in comparison with the conventional SSZ-13 catalyst in the MTO reaction. This work not only provides a simple and facile approach for the rapid synthesis of hierarchical nanosized aluminosilicate zeolite, but also might help to develop the fast synthesis methods for other aluminosilicate zeolites.