History of Molecular Sieve Materials

Mordenite and cHnoptiloHte are used in small volume in adsorbent applications including air separation and in drying and purification [24]. Natural zeolites have also found use in bulk applications as fillers in paper, in pozzolanic cements and concrete, in fertihzer and soil conditioners and as dietary supplements in animal husbandry. 

The theme of research on molecular sieve materials over the past nearly 60 years has been a quest for new structures and compositions. The major discoveries and advances in molecular sieve materials during that period are summarized in Table 1.1. 

The history of commercially significant molecular sieve materials from 1954 to 2001 was reviewed in detail by one of us (E.M.F., ref [1]) Highhghts from that review and the subsequent history are presented here. The reader is referred to Chapter 2 for the structures of the materials and to Chapter 3 and ref [25] for a detailed discussion on zeolite synthesis. 

Late 1940s to early 1950s Low Si/Al ratio zeolites 

Mid-1950s to late 1960s High Si/Al ratio zeolites 

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