Surface modification of zeolite-4A by CTMAB and its properties

The structure and properties of zeolite-4A modified by hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTMAB) were investigated in this work. Structure characterization proved that surface modification only influenced the external surface structure and properties of zeolite-4A. Properties testing showed that the surface modification improved the dispersity of zeolite-4A in lower polar and non-polar solvents and the adsorbability dyestuff of zeolite-4A in aqueous solution. However, the rate of its Ca2+ ions exchange in aqueous solution reduced slightly because of the decrease of its surface hydrophilicity. Therefore, the surface modification of zeolite-4A by using hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide was effective, the same method was suitable for the surface modification of other zeolites, and then for the catalytic performances study of zeolites.