Solid-state NMR study of various mono- and divalent cation forms of the natural zeolite natrolite

Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2013 May 28;15(20):7604-12. doi: 10.1039/c3cp44421j. Epub 2013 Apr 15.

Abstract

Here we present the one-dimensional (29)Si and (27)Al MAS NMR and two-dimensional (27)Al MQMAS and DQF-STMAS NMR spectra of the monovalent (Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), Cs(+) and NH4(+)) and divalent (Ca(2+), Sr(2+) and Ba(2+)) cation forms of the natural zeolite natrolite (framework type NAT) with complete Si-Al ordering over the crystallographically distinct tetrahedral sites and with the same hydration state (hydrated, partially dehydrated or fully dehydrated). In the case of monovalent cation-exchanged natrolites, the differences in their crystal symmetry evidenced by (29)Si MAS NMR were found to be in good agreement with those determined by crystallographic analyses. However, (27)Al DQF-STMAS NMR spectroscopy shows the presence of two distinct Al sites in dehydrated K-NAT, Rb-NAT and NH4-NAT, suggesting that their actual crystal symmetry is lower than the reported one (i.e., orthorhombic Fdd2). The MAS NMR results also show that the space group of hydrated Ca-NAT is lower than that (monoclinic F1d1) of hydrated scolecite, the natural calcium counterpart of natrolite, which is also the case with hydrated Sr-NAT and Ba-NAT. We believe that the unexpected diversity in the crystal symmetry of natrolite caused by exchange of various mono- and divalent ions, as well as by dehydration, may be inherently due to the high framework flexibility of this natural zeolite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Cations / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Metals, Alkali / chemistry*
  • Metals, Alkaline Earth / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Zeolites / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Cations
  • Metals, Alkali
  • Metals, Alkaline Earth
  • Zeolites