Channel and Surface Modification of Zeolites

Zeolites are important materials for the manufacture of adsorbents and catalysts because these materials possess special shape selectivities. The concept of shape selectivity was first proposed by Weisz and Frilette in 1960[391 to describe the phenomenon that only those molecules with shapes and sizes matching the zeolite pores are able to be adsorbed 

In addition, in order to improve the shape selectivity of adsorbents and catalysts, besides adjustment of pore size, the external surface of zeolites also needs to be modified to deactivate the adsorption sites and catalytically active sites present on the external surface which shows no shape selectivity. The external surface modification is especially important for small-particle and nano-sized zeolites. 

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