Mass spectral studies on the thermal desorption of aliphatic amines from the surface of y-type zeolites

Abstract

Thermogravimetric and thermal desorption mass spectroscopic studies of some amines from the surface of NaY, CaY and HY zeolites are reported. The amines studied include, n-propylamine, isopropylamine and n-butylamine. Mass spectral data show that the amines decompose on the zeolitic surface to give rise to various reactions on the zeolite surface typical of those on an acid catalyst. From the ease with which aliphatic amines are decomposed even on residual acid sites of NaY, it is concluded that the characterisation of the surface acidity of zeolites by thermal methods should be accompanied by a simultaneous identification of the desorbed species.