Res. Chem. Intermed., Vol. 32, No. 9, pp. 871–885 (2006)  VSP 2006. Also available online - www.brill.nl/rci Silver nanoclusters doped in X and mordenite zeolites as heterogeneous catalysts for the decomposition of carbamate pesticides in solution SOFIAN M. KANAN 1 , MARSHA C. KANAN 2 and HOWARD H. PATTERSON 2,∗ 1 Department of Chemistry, American University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates 2 Deparment of Chemistry, University of Maine, 5706 Aubert Hall, Orono, ME 04469, USA Received 6 July 2006; accepted 14 August 2006 Abstract—Ag(I) nanoclusters doped in X and mordenite zeolites were prepared and analyzed using spectroscopy. Both experimental and theoretical studies of the prepared compounds show the presence of silver nanoclusters with various sizes and environments. The presence of Ag(I) nanoclusters doped in X and mordenite zeolites with high silver loadings enhanced the photodecomposition rate of carbofuran 215- and 184-fold, respectively, while the photodecomposition of carbaryl in the presence of these catalysts show room temperature rate constants that are 182- and 168-times faster than the photodecomposition of carbaryl in the absence of the silver-doped zeolite catalysts. The reaction rates were found to be dependent on the amount of silver loaded into the zeolite. Keywords: Zeolites; carbofuran; carbaryl; silver nanoclusters; luminescence; photodecomposition. INTRODUCTION Zeolites are aluminosilicates with well-defined pore and channel structures. These materials are widely used in industry as ion exchangers, molecular sieves, sorbants and as catalysts in the petroleum industry [1]. The structural stability of zeolites and their thermal stability have been investigated extensively [2–4]. They possess high selectivity patterns for a wide range of hydrocarbon transformations [5 –8]. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that zeolites are giant macromolecules formed by AlO 4 and SiO 4 tetrahedrons joined by shared oxygens, and the structures of many synthetic and naturally occurring zeolites are now known and well documented [9]. ∗ To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: (1-207) 581-1178. Fax: (1-207) 581-1191. E-mail: howard_patterson@umit.maine.edu