Zeolites are microporous crystalline alumosilicate materials with well-defined system of channels and cages.

Due to their specific structure and chemical composition they have large internal surface area, adsorption capacity as well as ion-exchange capacity. They are thermally stable and the level of their hydrophobicity is tunable.

Small-pore zeolites have pore openings comprising eight-membered rings.

They present excellent catalyitic activity in the synthesis of olefins from methanol (MTO), as well as in the elimination of various harmful gases, particularly nitrogen-containing exhaust gases. Within the proposed project, a series of small-pore zeolite materials (CHA-, LTA-, LEV-framework types) will be synthesized and subsequently ion-exchanged by copper which will generate the metal centers required for catalytic reactions leading to a reduction in the emission of harmful gases.

In order to prepare materials with improved properties, the synthesis of the material will be mechanochemically-assisted by the pre-treatment of the starting compounds. The mechanochemical treatment is also going to be applied during the ion-exchange with copper. The obtained samples will be thoroughly characterized and those that will show adequate (hydro) thermal stability; quantity of the structural defects; particles’ shape and size; type, strength and distribution of acid sites, as well as the type and distribution of the copper species are going to be tested as catalysts in the reactions of the gaseous nitrogen compounds removal.

Particular attention will be paid to the evaluation of catalytic activity of the prepared materials in the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides by ammonia and the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia.

The results of the project are published:

• in scientific journals as scientific articles:

1. Palčić, Ana; Valtchev, Valentin, Analysis and control of acid sites in zeolites. Applied catalysis. A, General, 606 (2020), 117795, 32 doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2020.117795.
2. Palčić, Ana; Cleto Bruzzese, Paolo; Pyra, Kamila; Bertmer, Marko; Góra-Marek, Kinga; Poppitz, David; Pöppl, Andreas; Gläser, Roger; Jabłońska, Magdalena, Nanosized Cu-SSZ-13 and Its Application in NH3-SCR. Catalysts, 10 (2020), 5; 506, 21 doi:10.3390/catal10050506.
3. Ardila‐Fierro, Karen J.; Vugrin, Leonarda; Halasz, Ivan; Palčić, Ana; Hernández, José G. Mechanochemical Bromination of Naphthalene Catalyzed by Zeolites: From Small Scale to Continuous Synthesis. Chemistry methods, 2 (2022), 12; e202200035, 6 doi:10.1002/cmtd.202200035.
4. Jabłońska, Magdalena; Góra-Marek, Kinga; Cleto Bruzzese, Paolo; Palčić, Ana; Pyra, Kamila; Tarach, Karolina; Bertmer, Marko; Poppitz, David; Pöppl, Andreas; Gläser, Roger, Influence of Framework n (Si)/n (Al) Ratio on the Nature of Cu Species in Cu-ZSM-5 for NH₃-SCR-DeNOx. ChemCatChem, 14 (2022), 18; e202200627, 14 doi:10.1002/cctc.202200627.
5. Bogdan, Lucija; Palčić, Ana; Duplančić, Marina; Leskovac, Mirela; Tomašić, Vesna, Eco-Friendly Synthesis of TiO₂/ZIF-8 Composites: Characterization and Application for the Removal of Imidacloprid from Wastewater. Processes, 11 (2023) 963 https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11030963.
6. Suharbiansah, Rujito S. R.; Lukman, Muhammad Fernadi; Nannuzzi, Chiara; Wach, Anna; Góra-Marek, Kinga; Liebau, Michael; Palčić, Ana; Pöppl, Andreas; Berlier, Gloria; Bordiga, Silvia; Gläser, Roger; Jabłońska, Magdalena, Effect of the preparation method on the catalytic properties of copper-containing zeolite Y applied for NH₃-SCR-DeNO_x. Catal. Sci. Technol., 13 (2023) 3804–3817 https://doi.org/10.1039/d3cy00269a. (inside front cover)
7. Jabłońska, Magdalena; Palčić, Ana; Lukman, Muhammad Fernadi; Wach, Anna; Bertmer, Marko; Poppitz, David; Denecke, Reinhard; Wu, Xiaochao; Simon, Ulrich; Pöppl, Andreas; Gläser, Roger, OSDA-Free Seeded Cu-Containing ZSM‑5 Applied for NH₃−SCRDeNO_x. ACS Omega, 8 (2023) 41107−41119 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c03721

• in conference proceedings/books of abstracts:

1. Kopljar, Katarina; Ardila Fierro, Karen Janella; Krajnc, Andraž; Mazaj, Matjaž; Palčić, Ana, Distribution of Al sites in SSZ-13 zeolites. Proceedings of the 9^th Croatian-Slovenian-Serbian Symposium on Zeolites / Nuić, Ivona ; Mazaj, Matjaž ; Daković, Aleksandra (ur.). Zagreb: Croatian Zeolite Association, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, 2021. str. 18-21. (usmeno predavanje)
2. Jakupec, Nikola; J. Ardilla-Fierro, Karen; Martinez, Valentina; Halasz, Ivan; Etter, Martin; Užarević, Krunoslav; Palčić, Ana, Termički kontrolirana mehanokemija za selektivne reakcije interzeolitne pretvorbe. / 6. simpozij studenata doktorskih studija PMF-a : knjiga sažetaka = 6^th Faculty of Science PhD student symposium : book of abstracts / Schneider, Petra ; Đaković, Marijana ; Korać, Petra ; Lukić, Aleksandar ; Marušić-Paloka, Eduard ; Novak, Predrag ; Pezelj, Đurđica ; Pikelj, Kristina ; Smolčić, Vernesa (ur.). Zagreb: Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, 2022. str. 142-142 (poster, sažetak, znanstveni)
3. Jakupec, Nikola; J. Ardila-Fierro, Karen; Martinez, Valentina; Halasz, Ivan; Etter, Martin; Užarević, Krunoslav; Palčić, Ana, Interzeolite conversion reactions of zeolite Y via thermally controlled mechanochemistry. / 10^th international conference on mechanochemistry and mechanical alloying : Book of Abstracts / Delogu, Francesco ; Colacino, Evelina (ur.). Cagliari: Universita Degli Studi di Cagliari, 2022. str. 99-99 (poster, sažetak, znanstveni)
4. Jakupec, Nikola; Ardila-Fierro, Karen Janella; Martinez, Valentina; Halasz, Ivan; Etter, Martin; Šket, Primož; Krajnc, Andraž; Valtchev, Valentin; Užarević, Krunoslav; Palčić, Ana, In situ study of mechanochemical conversion of zeolite Y. / 20^th International Zeolite Conference : Book of Abstracts. Valencia, Španjolska, 2022. str. 95-98 (predavanje, međunarodna recenzija, prošireni sažetak, znanstveni)
5. Šinjori, Damjan; Jakupec, Nikola; Palčić, Ana; Stanković, Anamarija, Mehanokemijska sinteza policijanometalata u šupljinama zeolita Y. / SISK 7 knjiga sažetaka / Topić, Magda ; Kukina Gradečak, Karla ; Poljanić, Leon (ur.). Zagreb: Studentska sekcija hrvatskog kemijskog društva, 2022. str. 39-39 (predavanje, domaća recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
6. Jurin, Mladenka; Roje, Marin; Palčić, Ana, Zeolite-Catalyzed 1,2-Dibromination of Cinnamates Using 1,3-Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin as a Bromine Source. // 9^th Conference of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA 2023), Abstract Book. Portorož, 2023. str. 213-213 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
7. Jurin, Mladenka; Pantalon Juraj, Natalija; Etter, Martin; Užarević, Krunoslav; Palčić, Ana, Monitoring thermo-milling of natural zeolite clinoptilolite. // 9^th Conference of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA 2023), Abstract Book. Portorož, 2023. str. 212-212 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
8. Jurin, Mladenka; Hršak, Patricija; Bosnar, Sanja; Palčić, Ana, Preparation of High/Pure-Silica LTA Framework Type Zeolite Materials. // Solid State Science and Research : Book of Abstracts / Biliškov, Nikola ; Karadeniz, Bahar ; Pantalon Juraj, Natalija (ur.). Zagreb: Institut Ruđer Bošković, 2023. str. 91-91 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
9. Hršak, Patricija; Jurin, Mladenka; Bosnar, Sanja; Palčić, Ana, Direct Synthesis Strategies to Obtain Small Pore Zeolites. // Solid State Science and Research : Book of Abstracts / Biliškov, Nikola ; Karadeniz, Bahar ; Pantalon Juraj, Natalija (ur.). Zagreb: Institut Ruđer Bošković, 2023. str. 137-137 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
10. Jakupec, Nikola; Uran, Erik; Etter, Martin; Užarević, Krunoslav; Palčić, Ana, Mechanochemical Interzeolite Conversion of FAU to CHA Zeolite. // 7^th Faculty of Science PhD Student Symposium - Book of Abstracts. Zagreb: Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2023 (poster, sažetak, znanstveni)
11. Šinjori, Damjan; Jakupec, Nikola; Palčić, Ana, Gas adsorption by FAU zeolite modified with mechanochemicaly synthesized polycyanometallates. // Solid-State Science & Research Book of Abstracts and Programme 2023. Zagreb: Institut Ruđer Bošković, 2023. str. 92-92 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
12. Petrović Hađar, Emilija; Jakupec, Nikola; Palčić, Ana, Mechanochemical modification of FAU zeolite with transition metal iodides and its gas adsorption properties. // Solid-State Science & Research Book of Abstracts and Programme 2023. Zagreb: Institut Ruđer Bošković, 2023. str. 89-89 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
13. Jakupec, Nikola; Uran, Erik; Etter, Martin; Užarević, Krunoslav; Palčić, Ana, Synthesis of CHA zeolite via thermally controlled mechanochemistry. // Book of abstracts: 9^th Conference of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA 2023), 2^nd-6^th of July 2023, Portorož-Portorose, Slovenia. Portorož: Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti (SAZU), 2023. str. 209-209 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
14. Šinjori, Damjan; Jakupec, Nikola; Palčić, Ana, Synthesis of polycyanometallate complexes in zeolite cavities. // Book of abstracts: 9^th Conference of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA 2023), 2^nd-6^th of July 2023, Portorož-Portorose, Slovenia. Portorož: Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti (SAZU), 2023. str. 232-232 (poster, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)
15. Petrović Hađar, Emilija; Jakupec, Nikola; Posavec, Lidija; Palčić, Ana, Karakterizacija i određivanje svojstava jodidnih kompleksa prijelaznih metala pripravljenih mehanokemijskom modifikacijom zeolita FAU. // 8. Simpozij studenata kemičara: Knjiga sažetaka. Zagreb: Hrvatsko kemijsko društvo, 2023. str. 31-31 (poster, sažetak, znanstveni)
16. Šinjori, Damjan; Jakupec, Nikola; Palčić, Ana, Adsorpcija plinova u FAU tip zeolita modificiranog mehanokemijski sintetiziranim policijanometalatima. // 8. Simpozij studenata kemičara: Knjiga sažetaka. Zagreb: Hrvatsko kemijsko društvo, 2023. str. 40-40 (poster, sažetak, znanstveni)
17. Palčić, Ana; Jurin, Mladenka; Jakupec, Nikola; Pantalon Juraj, Natalija; Etter, Martin; Užarević, Krunoslav, in situ Investigation of Zeolite Synthesis While Milling at Elevated Temperatures. // Book of abstracts: 9^th Conference of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA 2023). Slovenia: Slovenian Zeolite Association, 2023. str. 41-41 (predavanje, međunarodna recenzija, sažetak, znanstveni)

• as master theses:

1. Kopljar, Katarina, Sinteza i karakterizacija zeolita strukturnog tipa CHA. Diplomski rad, Kemijski odsjek, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2021.
2. Šinjori, Damjan, Mehanokemijska sinteza kompleksa prijelaznih metala u zeolitima. 2022., diplomski rad, preddiplomski, Odjel za kemiju, Osijek.
3. Mijić, Martina, Priprava zeolita SSZ-13 interzeolitnom pretvorbom zeolita beta i njihova karakterizacija. Diplomski rad, Kemijski odsjek, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2021.

Devices aquired in the frame of the project:

UV-VIS spectrometer Thermo Evolution 350 with Praying Mantis accessory

 Nabertherm furnace

 Binder oven

IKA magnetic stirrer

ILS shaking incubator

KNF vacuum pump

Orbital shaker

Pol-eko oven

Ultrasonic bath

Magnetic stirrer