Author(s)

Andrew Morgan, Joseph Corrao, Marcia R. Silva^*

Water Technology Accelerator (WaTA), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Disordered carbon particulates were deposited on the surface of natural acid treated zeolite through graphite evaporation by electron beam to improve adsorption properties of the porous material. This study focuses on the development of the new material and not on applications. The effect of acid treatment and carbon deposition on the physical properties of the natural material was investigated. The zeolites were characterized via spectroscopic and microscopic methods, thermal analysis, and gas sorption analysis. Analysis revealed that the surface area and volume increased by a factor of ten after the carbon-coating was deposited onto the zeolite surface and indicated that the Si/Al ratio was higher with the acid treated sample. The acid treatment promoted dealumination of the zeolite and increased overall surface area, whereas the carbon coating re-aluminated the zeolite while adding silica back to the main molecular framework, thus increasing crystallinity and thermal stability and further improving the high surface area produced by the acid treatment.

Zeolite, E-Beam Evaporation, Graphite, Adsorption, Acid Treatment

Morgan, A. , Corrao, J. and Silva, M. (2022) Deposition of Carbon Particulates Surfaces on Zeolites by Electron-Beam Evaporation of Graphite. Materials Sciences and Applications, 13, 78-90. doi: 10.4236/msa.2022.132006.