Exchange of alkylammonium ions in the zeolite-L

Abstract

A study has been made of the ion-exchange equilibria of NH⁺₄, CH₃NH⁺₃, C₂H₅NH⁺₃, n-C₃H₇NH⁺₃, n-C₄H₉NH⁺₃, (CH₃)₂NH⁺₂, (CH₃)₃NH⁺, (C₂H₅)₂NH⁺₂ and (C₂H₅)₃NH⁺ by the zeolite L. None of the alkylammonium ions could effect a complete replacement of the cations initially present in the zeolite. The maximum extent of exchange and the standard free energy of exchange were related to the molecular weight of the entering alkylammonium ions.

It is suggested that there was an equilibrium distribution of the exchangeable cations over the different sites (C and D), governed by the nature and affinity of the entering alkylammonium ion and the cation initially present in the zeolite.