Crystal Structures of Fully Indium-Exchanged Zeolite X

Microporous framework polar silicate-germanates with a wide isomorphic substitution: (K2.9Cs0.1)(Sc0.7In0.3)[(Si2.95Ge0.05)O9]·H2O and (K2.16Cs0.84)Bi[(Si1.5Ge1.5)O9]·H2O

New silicate-germanates (K2.9Cs0.1)(Sc0.7In0.3)[(Si2.95Ge0.05)O9]·H2O and (K2.16Cs0.84)Bi[(Si0.5Ge0.5)3O9]·H2O have been synthesized in multi-component systems under mild hydrothermal conditions. The new compounds are classified as new representatives of close related K3ScSi3O9·H2O parent structure, sp. gr. Pmn21. Their structural and isomorphic peculiarities are compared with it as well as with earlier investigated K1.46Pb1.54Сa[(Ge0.23Si0.77)3O9](ОН)0.54·0.46Н2О. Together with other known compounds, silicate-germanates form the extensive family A3M[T3O9]·H2O, A = K, Cs, Ca, Pb; M = Ho, Sc, Lu, Tb, Er, Y, Bi, Pb, In; T = Si, Ge, with a mixed microporous framework combined of M-octahedra and T-tetrahedra. Large alkali metal or/and Ca, Pb cations fill broad framework channels with cross-section up to 7.3 Å. Because of wide isomorphic substitution in the channels, and in tetrahedra and octahedra, ion exchange properties in the family are expected. Due to polar symmetry, all the crystals possess second-order nonlinearity which was confirmed with positive SHG tests for four compositions. Powder SHG experiments demonstrated moderate second harmonic intensities of order of α-quartz standard signals.

Effects of Electronegativity and Hydration Energy on the Selective Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions by Synthetic NaX Zeolite

The adsorption capacity of synthetic NaX zeolite for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ in single and multi-component systems were investigated. The effects of electronegativity and hydration energy on the selective adsorption, as well as potential selective adsorption mechanism of the NaX zeolite for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were also discussed. The maximum adsorption capacity order of the heavy metals in the single system was Pb²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺, and this could be related to their hydration energy and electronegativity. The values of the separation factors (α) and affinity constant (K_EL) in different binary systems indicated that Pb²⁺ was preferentially adsorbed, and Zn²⁺ presented the lowest affinity for NaX zeolite. The selective adsorption capacities of the metals were in the order, Pb²⁺ > Cd²⁺ ≈ Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺. The trend for the selective adsorption of NaX zeolite in ternary and quaternary systems was consistent with that in the binary systems. Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ reduced the stability of the Si-O-Al bonds and the double six-membered rings in the NaX framework, due to the high electronegativity of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ than that of Al³⁺. The selective adsorption mechanism of NaX zeolite for the high electronegative metal ions could mainly result from the negatively charged O in the Si-O-Al structure of the NaX zeolite, hence heavy metal ions with high electronegativity display a strong affinity for the electron cloud of the oxygen atoms in the Si-O-Al. This study could evaluate the application and efficiency of zeolite in separating and recovering certain metal ions from industrial wastewater.