States of aluminum in zeolite β and influence of acidic or basic medium

The states of aluminum in zeolites β were investigated in detail with FTIR spectroscopy. Three kinds of aluminum—framework, nonframework, and transient-state aluminum—were detected in template-removed zeolite β. The states of aluminum in our samples intensely depends on the nature of compensating cation, consistent with the conclusion of Brougeat-Lami et al. But some new assignments of aluminum species and new opinions about the states of aluminum and their transformation are proposed. From the experimental results, we suggest that, because the framework of zeolite β is deformable, the distortion and the tension of zeolite lattice occur when protons, which possess high electron affinity, are located at cationic sites, leading to the breakage of Al-O bond and the removal of aluminum. Therefore, zeolite β is subjected to dealumination in acidic medium. On the other hand, the high deformability also results in the relaxation of zeolite structure when H⁺ is replaced by other cations (e.g., Na⁺) so that transient-state aluminum and even nonframework aluminum can go back into the framework. Owing to ion-exchange, the cationic nonframework aluminum species enter the solution; moreover, it can also reinsert into the framework after hydroxylation in basic medium.