Synthesis of uniform mesoporous ZSM-5 using hydrophilic carbon as a hard template

Mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites were synthesized by using hydrophilic carbon black as a hard template. Hydrophobic carbon black was oxidized with sodium hypochlorite solution then dispersed into the synthetic precursor, and hydrothermally treated by omitting the evaporation process. The samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, nitrogen adsorption/desorption and NH3-TPD measurements. As a result, mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites were obtained in the morphology of single crystal like aggregates (about ∼2 μm) with intra-mesopores in the range of 5–18 nm. Textural properties and acidity of mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites were varied by adjusting the amount of carbon black used. In the toluene disproportionation, mesoporous ZSM-5 templated by hydrophilic carbon black showed more active in toluene conversion and more selective to the para-xylene than conventional zeolite, and even comparable to the commercial zeolite catalyst.