Experimental Design Applied to Hydrothermal Synthesis of Zeolite 13X Nanocrystals: Effects of Synthesis Parameters

In this work a two-stage methodology of experimental designing for a systematic and economical investigation of the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite 13X nanocrystals is introduced. In the first stage, the Plackett-Burman plan used for numerical estimation and comparison of individual influence of seven synthesis parameters upon three properties of the product (crystallinity percent, zeolite 13X content, and crystal size). Using this method made it possible to eliminate three insignificant parameters for zeolite 13X crystallization.
At the second stage, a detailed study and comparison were conducted on the individual effects and interactions of four residual significant parameters (crystallization time, crystallization temperature, aging time and Si/Al ratio) on synthesis of zeolite 13X nanocrystals using the Taguchi plan.
As a result, a new experimental design methodology and a new low-module field have been applied to zeolite 13X crystallization. It was found a solution to get maximum information with minimum experiments.

This study showed that how a complex synthesis system can be systematically and economically investigated with the use of a combination method of experimental designing. Application of the PB plan at a preliminary stage of studies of zeolite 13X synthesis allows for elimination of insignificant parameters as well as assessment and comparison on a single scale of the magnitudes of main effects. As a result, the number of necessary syntheses can be reduced significantly and consequently, the investigations can be accelerate with lower costs.