SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF ZEOLITE FORMATION (RAMAN, NMR, ALUMINOSILICATE)

Zeolites are three dimensional aluminosilicate crystallines with unique structures and properties. An understanding of the mechanism of zeolite formation at a molecular level is lacking which impedes design of new and novel zeolites. This thesis focuses on the crystallization of zeolites from aluminate and silicate solutions and the process is studied with the help of Raman, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, X-ray Diffraction and Electron Microprobe techniques. Monomeric aluminate and silicate species are the major reactants found in these studies. Aluminosilicate gels formed upon mixing aluminate and silicate solutions consist of predominantly four-membered rings with alternate aluminum and silicon atoms. Various zeolites are formed by folding of these four-membered aluminosilicate rings in various configuration.