Unusually strong adsorption of molecular hydrogen on Cu+ sites in copper-modified ZSM-5

The copper-modified ZSM-5 zeolites, prepared by ion-exchange in an aqueous solution of Cu(CH3COO)2 and subjected to different treatments were studied by FTIR spectroscopy using molecular hydrogen adsorbed at 77 K and at room temperature as a probe. For reduced and calcined CuZSM-5 samples broad range IR spectra were measured and discussed in detail. At least two different Cu+ sites in CuZSM-5 reduced with CO were distinguished using molecular hydrogen as a probe. It was established that the copper adsorption sites which strongly perturb hydrogen molecules are Cu+ ions that also strongly adsorb dinitrogen molecules. For reduced CuZSM-5 adsorption isoterms of H2, N2 and CO were measured. A comparison of the amounts of strongly adsorbed H2, N2 and CO has also been made. The amounts of adsorbed molecules decreased in the following sequence: CO > N2 > H2. Based both on the results of FTIR studies and measurements of amounts of adsorbed H2, N2 and CO it was concluded that there are different Cu+ sites which differ in the strength of interaction with adsorbed molecules probably due to different localization in the zeolite framework.