Mechanistic Insights into Reactive Zeolite-Water Interactions

Title: Mechanistic Insights into Reactive Zeolite-Water Interactions Author: Tereza Benešová Department: Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry Supervisor: Christopher Heard, PhD. Abstract: An in silico investigation of zeolite-water interactions was undertaken using a combined static and dynamic approach within density functional theory. Two periodic models of zeolite chabazite were used, purely siliceous and aluminosilicate in order to explain the different behaviour of water near Si-O-Si and Al-O-Si bridges. One or two water molecules per supercell of the model were used, corresponding to experimental conditions of steaming. Under such conditions, water can interact with zeolites by non-reactive adsorption but also by reactive interactions such as hydrolysis and oxygen exchange between water and the framework. The main goal of the study was to explain oxygen exchange at an atomistic level. The viable mechanisms of oxygen exchange were established. These mechanisms are different for Si-O-Si and Al-O-Si bridges but for both of them oxygen exchange is initiated by partial hydrolysis of the framework. After this hydrolysis, oxygen exchange heals the framework while incorporating into it the oxygen that originated from the water. Both established mechanisms are competitive with non-exchange..