Cu Y Zeolite

Cu-Y zeolites are synthesized through aqueous or gaseous ionic exchange unlike the naturally occurring faujasites: faujasite-Ca, faujasite-Mg, and faujasite-Na.

[3] They eventually began to find use in other industries as the usage of zeolites increased as a whole, such as removal of carbon monoxide from gas.

[6] From then on, various methods were developed utilizing Cu-Y zeolites in desulfurization of hydrocarbons, reducing their environmental impact when used as fuel.

One of the important properties allowing zeolites to act as catalysts is their ability to exchange cations without disturbing the crystalline structure.

Copper zeolites also act as oxidizing agents as seen in their ability to ionize anthracene, the electron transfer was proven to happen at the cupric ion.

[8] This mechanism is consistent in that pi complexation involves stronger bonds with organo-sulfur molecules than with aromatic sulfur.

[12][13] The two most common applications of the Cu(I) Y Zeolite are catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide to nitrogen and oxygen, and desulfurization of fuels used in the hydrocracking process for petroleum production.

[16] The downfall of using the Cu(I) Y zeolite catalyst for desulfurization is that moisture exhibits strong inhibiting effects on the adsorption process because the water molecule is preferred over sulfur.

Copper cation housed within faujasite six-ring window site interacting with thiophene compound.
Copper bonding and reduction sites within a zeolite cage.
This is part of the typical process for desulfurization of natural gas where the catalyst is within the packed bed reactor. The blue molecules represent the catalyst caging in the sulfur molecules (orange) and water molecules (purple) who compete for the active sites.