Effect of framework aluminum on the dissolution process of ZSM-5 zeolite crystal

The effect of framework aluminum on the dissolution behavior of ZSM-5 zeolite crystal was systematically studied using an interferometric technique. We succeeded in the three-dimensional measurement of the dissolution rates of aluminum-containing ZSM-5 zeolite crystal, namely the (010) face of ZSM-5 zeolite crystal as well as the (100) and (001) faces. The dissolution rate was dependent strongly upon the amount of framework aluminum of the zeolite crystal and the concentration of NaOH aqueous solution used. It was also found that the aluminum-containing ZSM-5 zeolite crystal is convex and that the inclination of the (010) face at the edge of the ZSM-5 zeolite crystal is steeper than that of silicalite crystal.