Two Kinds of Framework Al Sites Studied in BEA Zeolite by X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, NMR Techniques, and V Probe

The dealumination of BEA zeolite by treatment with concentrated nitric acid is evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Two-dimensional Al-27 3Q and 5Q magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR allow the detection of two kinds of tetrahedral Al atoms whose relative amounts depend on the Si/Al ratio and which correspond to two specific T-sites. Si-29 MAS NMR and H-1 MAS NMR measurements confirm these results. 29Si MAS NMR spectra evidence two resonances at around -114 and -111 ppm ascribed to Si sites of the Si(OSi)(4) environment of two different crystallographic sites. Moreover, the presence of Si atoms associated with hydroxyl groups is confirmed by a resonance at -102 ppm when H-1-Si-29 CP is applied. The Bronsted and Lewis acidic sites in dealuminated BEA zeolites are evidenced by FTIR spectra of adsorbed pyridine which show two kinds of bridging hydroxyl groups (Si-O(H)-Al) of different acid strength. V-51 MAS NMR confirms the incorporation of vanadium atoms into vacant T-atom sites of a fully dealuminated SiBEA zeolite leading to two kinds of tetrahedral V(V) sites (delta(iso) = - 708 and - 766 ppm), with a V=O double bond and linked by V-OSi bonds to the framework. The two types of tetrahedral V(V) sites are in line with the two kinds of tetrahedral Al sites initially present in the zeolite. Moreover, the two bands at 3620 and 3645 cm(-1) suggest that VSiBEA also contains V(V) sites with V(V)O-H groups, which exhibit Bronsted acidic character as shown by FTIR of adsorbed pyridine. Possible ways for the formation of tetrahedral V(V) in the BEA structure are proposed.