Abstract: Mesoporous mordenite samples were prepared by treatment in NaOH solution with different concentrations. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption methods. The NaOH concentration had a great impact on physicochemical properties of the mesoporous mordenite. With the increase in NaOH concentration, the particle size of the mesoporous mordenite became smaller, the amount of derived mesopores increased, the pore size distribution became broader, and the volume of mesopores increased in a linear manner. When the NaOH concentration was 0.50 mol/L, the mesoporous mordenite became zeolite microbox-like architecture and its fragments. The mordenite after alkaline treatment had much better catalytic performance for transformation of C9 and C10 aromatics to benzene, toluene, and xylene.

Key words: mordenite, alkaline treatment, mesopore, pore size distribution, heavy aromatics