R1 PM Nanotechnology Environmental Remediation, Fate, and Transport
Thursday, 17 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in Ballroom 1

(GRA-1117-829751) Nanocrystalline Zeolites: Applications in Environmental Remediation.

Grassian, V¹, Larsen, S¹, Song, W¹, Li, G, ¹ Univeristy of Iowa

ABSTRACT- Zeolites are aluminosilicate molecular sieves with pores of molecular dimensions. Zeolites, which have been commercially available in large quantities for nearly fifty years, have a number of industrial uses as shape-selective catalysts, sorbents and ion-exchangers as well as in separations through size exclusion. The crystal size of zeolites formed during conventional synthesis is typically one micron. Nanocrystalline zeolite of dimensions less than 100nm have the potential to be ideally suited for applications in environmental remediation. These materials have high internal and external surfaces area and unique functional bifunctional capabilities, such as acid/base chemistry, that can be designed into these materials. Several examples of the uses of nanocrystalline zeolites in environmental remediation will be discussed.

Key words: environmental remediation, nanocrystalline materials, zeolites