Orientation of the acidity probes benzene, acetonitrile and pyridine in SAPO-5 and GaAPO-5 molecular sieves: an FTIR microscopy study

The adsorption and desorption behaviour of benzene, acetonitrile (CD3CN) and pyridine for large crystals of SAPO-5 and GaAPO-5 is studied using FTIR microscopy with polarised IR radiation. From the analysis of the polarised adsorption bands it is concluded that the adsorbates are ordered in the molecular sieves at 373 K. The orientation of molecules interacting with Bronsted or Lewis acid sites and of physisorbed molecules are discussed. Benzene adsorbed at Bronsted sites is oriented with the aromatic ring parallel to the crystallographic c-axis of the molecular sieve, whereas physisorbed benzene is oriented with the aromatic ring parallel to the crystallographic a,bplane. Acetonitrile can …