Nazli Asgari - Reactor and Catalysis Research Center (RCRC), Chemical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology
Mohammad Haghighi - Reactor and Catalysis Research Center (RCRC), Chemical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology
Sirous Shafiei

Almost all chemical industries have one or more steps employing heterogeneous catalysts. Among different parameters, the most important is the selection of raw materials, which may justify the claim for development of improved and commercial catalysts. Due to the unique properties of zeolites as catalyst supports, they have been employed in various industrial technologies. Chemical properties of natural zeolites, coupled with the size and shape features and thermal and hydrothermal stability, allows these materials to be nominated as catalysts in some processes such as hexane isomerisation and xylene oxidation. This article reviews the catalytic potentials of the natural zeolites and the effect of treatment methods on their structure. The modification of zeolite through the different pretreatment and post treatment methods and the incorporation of metal species could convert them into effective catalysts for chemical reactions.

Natural zeolites, Zeolite modification, Catalyst support, Characterization