29Si and 27Al NMR study of the thermal transformation of barium exchanged zeolite-A to celsian

Abstract

The thermal transformation of Ba exchanged zeolite A to celsian has been studied by ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. Evidence for the degradation of the zeolite framework is present in the ²⁹Si NMR spectra after thermal treatment at 200 °C. Confirmation is provided by the ²⁹Si NMR data that synthesis of celsian via the decomposition of Ba exchanged zeolite leads to a single phase. The ²⁷Al NMR data show distorted aluminium co-ordination sites upon the thermal transformation of Ba exchanged zeolite A. The distortions present in the amorphous matrix are greater than those present in the monoclinic and hexagonal crystalline phases of celsian. No evidence could be seen for significant amounts of nanometre scale crystalline domains in the amorphous matrix, prior to the crystallisation of monoclinic celsian.