Abstract
Zeolite Y, together with zeolite X, belongs to the family of aluminosilicate molecular sieves with a faujasite-type structure (FAU), which is characterized by the basic formula |(Ca, Mg, Na 2 ) 29 (H 2O) 240 |[Al 58 Si 134 O 384 ]– FAU (Baerlocher 2007). Faujasite is a rare zeolite, although its synthetic counterparts Linde X and Linde Y are largely used as sorbents and catalysts. Zeolite Y has a higher Si/Al atomic ratio than zeolite X (typically in the range 1–1.5). Therefore, the higher content of silica confers zeolite Y with higher thermal stability. The 24-tetrahedracuboctahedral units (sodalite cages) in the FAU framework type are arranged in the same way as the carbon atoms in diamond. They are connected via hexagonal prisms (double 6-rings) forming a 3-dimensional porous channel structure along [110], characterized by 12-oxygen ring window openings with the aperture of 8 Å and supercages of approximately 12 Å (McCusker and Baerlocher 2001). The FAU-type zeolite supercage viewed...