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State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts
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State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2026 | Viewed by 7261

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Narendra Kumar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Laboratory of Industrial Chemistry and Reaction Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Henriksgatan 2, FI-20500 Turku, Finland
Interests: heterogeneous catalysis; catalyst synthesis; nanoporous materials; catalyst characterization; zeolite catalysis; refinery processes; hydrocarbon conversion; reaction mechanisms; biomass transformations; environmental catalysis; exhaust emission control; water purification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Zeolite catalysts are intensively used in the several petroleum refinery processes, such as catalytic cracking, paraffins and xylene isomerization, alkylation process, methanol-to-gasoline conversion, and aromatization for the production of benzene, toluene, and xylenes. Besides petroleum refinery processes, zeolite catalysts are also applied to the production of fine and speciality chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medicinal drug molecules.  Due to their unique properties, such as ion exchange, uniform pore dimensions, shape selectivity, thermal stability, resistance to coke formations, and isomorphous substitutions, these catalytic materials are used for the development of green process technology development. Several zeolite catalyst structures have been applied to solve environmental problems, such as exhaust emission control from motor vehicles, industrial waste water purication, and the removal of pharmeceuticals from aqueous phases. Taking into consideration that zeolite catalysts can be regenerated and reused several times, these catalytical materials are very cost-effective and efficient in the production of fuel components and chemicals. The future challenges of zeolite catalysts are applications in the development of environmentally friendly processes, the discovery of novel zeolite catalysts with new structures, and the effective processing of crude oil to value-added fuel components.

Dr. Narendra Kumar
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • zeolite catalysts
  • refinery processes
  • novel zeolites structures
  • fine chemicals
  • speciality chemical synthesis
  • metal-modified catalysts
  • noble and transition metal modification
  • microporous and mesoporous zeolites
  • catalyst regeneration
  • catalyst reuse
  • water purification using zeolite catalysts

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4246 KB  
Article
Theoretical Modeling of Pathways of Transformation of Fructose and Xylose to Levulinic and Formic Acids over Single Na Site in BEA Zeolite
by Izabela Czekaj and Weronika Grzesik
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080735 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 526
Abstract
The aim of our work is to theoretically model the conversion of C6 and C5 carbohydrates derived from lignocellulosic biomass waste into C1–C5 carboxylic acids such as levulinic, oxalic, lactic, and formic acids. Understanding the mechanism of these processes will provide the necessary [...] Read more.
The aim of our work is to theoretically model the conversion of C6 and C5 carbohydrates derived from lignocellulosic biomass waste into C1–C5 carboxylic acids such as levulinic, oxalic, lactic, and formic acids. Understanding the mechanism of these processes will provide the necessary knowledge to better plan the structure of zeolite. In this article, we focus on the theoretical modeling of two carbohydrates, representing C5 and C6, namely xylose and fructose, into levulinic acid (LE) and formic acid (FA). The modeling was carried out with the participation of Na-BEA zeolite in a hierarchical form, due to the large size of the carbohydrates. The density functional theory (DFT) method (StoBe program) was used, employing non-local generalized gradient-corrected functions according to Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (RPBE) to account for electron exchange and correlation and using the nudged elastic band (NEB) method to determine the structure and energy of the transition state. The modeling was performed using cluster representations of hierarchical Na-Al2Si12O39H23 and ideal Al2Si22O64H34 beta zeolite. However, to accommodate the size of the carbohydrate molecules in reaction paths, only hierarchical Na-Al2Si12O39H23 was used. Sodium ions were positioned above the aluminum centers within the zeolite framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts)
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16 pages, 1382 KB  
Article
The Catalytic Consequence of Isolated Ni Single-Atoms in BEA Zeolite for Hydrogen Production and Olefin Conversion
by Yitong Zhao, Meng Liu, Yao Ning, Ying Zhang and Zhijie Wu
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080703 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 622
Abstract
In our previous work, we fabricated Ni single-atoms within Beta zeolite (Ni1@Beta-NO3−) using NiNO3·6H2O as a metal precursor without any chelating agents, which exhibited exceptional performance in the selective hydrogenation of furfural. Owing to [...] Read more.
In our previous work, we fabricated Ni single-atoms within Beta zeolite (Ni1@Beta-NO3−) using NiNO3·6H2O as a metal precursor without any chelating agents, which exhibited exceptional performance in the selective hydrogenation of furfural. Owing to the confinement effect, the as-encapsulated nickel species appears in the form of Ni0 and Niδ+, which implies its feasibility in metal catalysis and coordination catalysis. In the study reported herein, we further explored the hydrogen production and olefin oligomerization performance of Ni1@Beta-NO3−. It was found that Ni1@Beta-NO3− demonstrated a high H2 generation turnover frequency (TOF) and low activation energy (Ea) in a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis reaction, with values of 331 min−1 and 30.1 kJ/mol, respectively. In ethylene dimerization, it exhibited a high butylene selectivity of 99.4% and a TOF as high as 5804 h−1. In propylene oligomerization, Ni1@Beta-NO3− demonstrated high selectivity (75.21%) of long-chain olefins (≥C6+), overcoming the problem of cracking reactions that occur during oligomerization using H-Beta. Additionally, as a comparison, the influence of the metal precursor (NiCl2) on the performance of the encapsulated Ni catalyst was also examined. This research expands the application scenarios of non-noble metal single-atom catalysts and provides significant assistance and potential for the production of H2 from hydrogen storage materials and the production of valuable chemicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts)
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27 pages, 8162 KB  
Article
Catalytic Performance of Ti-MCM-22 Modified with Transition Metals (Cu, Fe, Mn) as NH3-SCR Catalysts
by Aleksandra Jankowska, Natalia Kokowska, Klaudia Fidowicz, Małgorzata Rutkowska, Andrzej Kowalczyk, Włodzimierz Mozgawa, Irena Brunarska and Lucjan Chmielarz
Catalysts 2025, 15(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15010060 - 11 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
In the presented work, titanosilicate with the MWW structure (Ti-MWW) was hydrothermally synthesized using boron and titanium precursors, with piperidine as a structure-directing agent. The resulting layered zeolite precursor, with a Si/Ti molar ratio of 50, was treated in an HNO3 solution [...] Read more.
In the presented work, titanosilicate with the MWW structure (Ti-MWW) was hydrothermally synthesized using boron and titanium precursors, with piperidine as a structure-directing agent. The resulting layered zeolite precursor, with a Si/Ti molar ratio of 50, was treated in an HNO3 solution to remove extraframework Ti and B species. The acid-modified zeolite was functionalized with transition metal cations (Cu2+, Fe2+, Mn2+) and trinuclear oligocations (Fe(3) and Mn(3)). The application of this catalytic system is supported by the presence of titanium in the catalytic support structure—similar to a commercial system, V2O5–TiO2. The obtained samples were characterized with respect to their structure (P-XRD, DRIFT), textural parameters (low-temperature N2 sorption), surface acidity (NH3-TPD), transition metal content (ICP-OES) and form (UV–vis DRS) as well as catalyst’s reducibility (H2-TPR). Ti-MWW zeolite samples modified with transition metals were evaluated as catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH3-SCR). The effective temperature range for the NO conversion varied depending on the type of active phase used to functionalize the porous support. The catalytic performance was influenced by transition metal content, its form, and accessibility for reactants as well as interactions between the active phase and titanium-containing support. Among the catalysts tested, the copper-modified Ti-MWW zeolite showed the most promising results, maintaining 90% NO conversion rates across a relatively broad temperature range from 200 to 325 °C. This catalyst meets the requirements of modern NH3-SCR installations, which aim to operate in the low-temperature region, below 250 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts)
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16 pages, 6737 KB  
Article
Generating Disk-Shaped MTW Zeolite with Reduced Channel Length Using Polycation Structure-Directing Agent for Hydroisomerization of N-Dodecane
by Guanyu Qie, Miao Zhai, Kake Zhu and Xuedong Zhu
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120925 - 15 Dec 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1231
Abstract
The development of hierarchically structured zeolites to mitigate diffusion limitations and improve catalytic performance constitutes a focus of current research. In this study, we present the synthesis of hierarchical disk-shaped MTW zeolite (ZSM-12-P) with shortened channel length using polycation [-C5H9 [...] Read more.
The development of hierarchically structured zeolites to mitigate diffusion limitations and improve catalytic performance constitutes a focus of current research. In this study, we present the synthesis of hierarchical disk-shaped MTW zeolite (ZSM-12-P) with shortened channel length using polycation [-C5H9N+C10H10N+C5H9-C3H6-]n[Br−]2n (PDIP) as an organic structure-directing agent (OSDA). The ZSM-12-P zeolite forms disk-shaped structures with thicknesses ranging from 140 to 160 nm and exhibits rotational intergrowth. These structures are composed of interconnected nanocrystalline domains that form mesopores accessible from the outer surface, while the microporous channels extend along the thickness direction. In addition, the polycationic OSDA possesses strong interaction with framework and MTW structure-directing ability, enabling the successful synthesis of the Al-rich ZSM-12-P. Owing to its strong acidity and improved diffusion property, the Pt/HZSM-12-P catalyst demonstrates enhanced catalytic n-dodecane hydroisomerization activity and isomer yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts)
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Review

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17 pages, 2438 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in the Synthesis and Photoelectrocatalysis of Zeolite-Based Composites
by Yitong Zhao, Meng Liu, Yingshuo Guo and Zhijie Wu
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 938; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120938 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2087
Abstract
Zeolites are a class of porous aluminosilicates possessing high surface area, good hydrothermal stability, strong sorption, and high ion-exchanging potential, and which frequently serve as efficient catalytic materials. The composites which integrate zeolite with alternative substances like metal oxides or carbon-based materials steadily [...] Read more.
Zeolites are a class of porous aluminosilicates possessing high surface area, good hydrothermal stability, strong sorption, and high ion-exchanging potential, and which frequently serve as efficient catalytic materials. The composites which integrate zeolite with alternative substances like metal oxides or carbon-based materials steadily outperform individual constituents. Recently, the application of zeolite-based composites in the field of photocatalytic oxidation and electrocatalytic oxidation/reduction, which is mainly focused on pollution treatment in sewage and air, have garnered significant attention. Several synthesis strategies for zeolite-based composites including post-treatment and in situ hydrothermal synthesis methods are explicated. Meanwhile, multifarious types of zeolite-based photoelectric catalytic composites are also summarized. Finally, we highlight the advancements improving the performance of zeolite-based composites in the photocatalytic treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater and the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 and organics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art and Future Challenges in Zeolite Catalysts)
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