Synthesis of Nanosiliceous Zeolite and its Functionalization with Silane Derivatives

A nanosiliceous zeolite has been synthesized using hydrothermal method. theoretically, nanosiliceous zeolite contains a lot of silanol group which allow the functionalization process for surface modification. siliceous zeolite of the type silicalite (sil) has been synthesized hydrothermally at 150oc for 4 days. the silicalite material was then functionalized with silane derivatives i.e 3- (triethoxysilyl)-propylamine (aptes), octadecyltrichlorosilane (ots) and (3-mercaptopropyl)- trimethoxysilane (mpts) using post-synthesis method. xrd results showed the formation of silicalite phase crystallinity. the ftir result showed that sil-ots gave the highest intensity of the vibration assigned for silane derivative, followed by sil-aptes and sil-mpts. the bet surface area of the functionalized-sil decreased, showing the attachment of silane derivatives to silicalite has occurred. fesem results showed sheet of hexagonal stick together to form granule-like crystal morphology of functionalized-sil samples with larger particle size was observed for sil-ots, followed by sil-aptes and sil-mpts after functionalization process. the functionalized-sil sample is expected to be a good support for chemosensor molecules.