“…The chemical properties of zeolites, including density of acidic sites (determined by the framework Si/Al ratio), and the type and amount of metal ions and metal oxides doped in zeolite cages and channels are well known to affect their catalytic performance (Lone et al, 1984;Lukyanov, 1992;Pant, 2004, 2005). Zeolites modified with Cu 2þ and Fe 3þ have high catalytic activity for a range of oxidation reactions, such as oxidation of methane, propane, and benzene, and oxydehydrogenation of ethane (Chang et al, 1995;Nowinska et al, 2003;Ryder et al, 2003;Smeets et al, 2005 In addition, extra-framework metallic oxides may also be deposited in crystalline and/or amorphous forms on the internal and external surfaces of the zeolites (Gervasini, 1999 eOe) stabilized by the zeolite framework (Campa et al, 1994;Moretti, 1994;Moretti et al, 1999), while monomeric Cu 2þ has also been proposed to be the catalytic center (Larsen et al, 1994;Konduru and Chuang, 1999;Wichterlova et al, 1995). This study was conducted to harness the catalytic property of transition metals in redox reactions to develop effective mineral sorbents for microwave-induced degradation of atrazine.…”