Carbochlorination, a solvent-free top-down process, is a novel pathway for the hierarchization of zeolites. In contrast to other methods no further washing steps are required. The employed method should serve as a model system for the “upcycling” of coked and deactivated zeolites accumulated by the industry. In order to establish a basic understanding of the process, zeolite H-Y was taken as a model system and a thorough investigation of important reaction parameters, like chlorination temperature, time and concentration, carbon loading, and Si/Al ratio, was performed. Under optimized conditions, we have been able to hierarchize H-Y with high yield, doubling the mesopore volume while maintaining the crystallinity and surface area.

Carbochlorination, a solvent-free top-down process, is a novel pathway for the hierarchization of zeolites. In contrast to other methods no further washing steps are required. The employed method should serve as a model system for the “upcycling” of coked and deactivated zeolites accumulated by the industry. In order to establish a basic understanding of the process, zeolite H-Y was taken as a model system and a thorough investigation of important reaction parameters, like chlorination temperature, time and concentration, carbon loading, and Si/Al ratio, was performed. Under optimized conditions, we have been able to hierarchize H-Y with high yield, doubling the mesopore volume while maintaining the crystallinity and surface area.