Effect of the Zn(II) on the reduction of Cu(II) in natural clinoptilolite

Abstract The [Cu(H 2 O) n ] 2+ reduction in the presence of Zn 2+ , with both cations supported on natural clinoptilolite, has been studied using hydrogen flow at different reduction temperatures. The analysis of the obtained results allows to conclude that the Cu 2+ reduction process and the subsequent aggregation of the reduced species of copper forming particles of colloidal and nanometric size is sensitive to the presence of zinc and to the temperature of reduction. The presence of Zn 2+ diminishes the temperature of Cu 2+ reduction. The Cu 2+ reduction in the presence of Zn 2+ could constitute an alternative procedure to control the degree of aggregation of reduced copper species and, thus, to modify the size of the resultant copper nanoparticles in the clinoptilolite matrix.