Molecular sieve structural properties

The discrepancy in numbers between natural and synthetic varieties is an expression of the usefulness of zeolitic materials in industry, a reflection of their unique physicochemical properties. The crystal chemistry of these aluminosilicates provides selective absorbtion and exchange of a remarkably wide range of molecules. Some zeolites have been called molecular sieves. This property is exploited in the purification and separation of various chemicals, such as in obtaining gasoline from crude petroleum, pollution control, or radioactive waste disposal (Mumpton, 1978). The synthesis of zeolites with a particular crystal structure, and thus specific absorbtion characteristics, has become very competitive (Fox, 1985). Small, often barely detectable, changes in composition and structure are now covered by patents. A brief review of the crystal chemistry of this mineral group illustrates their potential and introduces those that occur as fibers. 

The reductive/oxidative properties of transitional metal elements in these zeolite catalysts were also examined by TPR and TPO, and it is shown that metallic species in certain cation locations may migrate under calcination, reduction, and reaction conditions [7], The different treatment, e g, coking or even the oxidative regeneration, will produce metallic species of varied oxidation states with different distributions in the molecular sieve structures as exemplified by the above XPS data. The redox properties of these metallic cations exhibit the influence of hydrogen and/or coke molecules, and it is further postulated that the electron transfer with oxygen species are considered responsible for their catalyzed performance in the TPO regeneration processes, as shown in Figure 2. 

A combinatorial synthesis approach provides a new method for the systematic hydrothermal synthesis of microporous compounds and new molecular sieve structures in a highly efficient way. In combinatorial studies of the above-described systems, all systematic characterizations of the product were performed by a computer-controlled xyz stage GADDS microdiffractor. Further characterization of the structure and properties of the product was carried out at other facilities. 

Bowers, R.C., and Murray, R.W. 1966. Voltammetric membrane electrode study of the ion-exchange properties of cellophane membranes. Analytical Chemistry 38, 461-465. Breck, D.W. 1974. Zeolite Molecular Sieves Structure, Chemistry, and Use. Wiley-... 

Geiszler VC, Koros WJ (1996) Effect of polyimide pyrolysis conditions on carbon molecular sieve membrane properties. Ind Eng Chem Res 35 (9) 2999-3003 Koresh JE, Soffer A(1980) Study of molecular sieve carbons. Part 1. Pore structure, gradual pore opening, and mechanism of molecular sieving. J Chem Soc Faraday Trans 176 (12) 2457-2471... 

Adsorbents Table 16-3 classifies common adsorbents by structure type and water adsorption characteristics. Structured adsorbents take advantage of their crystalline structure (zeolites and sllicalite) and/or their molecular sieving properties. The hydrophobic (nonpolar surface) or hydrophihc (polar surface) character may vary depending on the competing adsorbate. A large number of zeolites have been identified, and these include both synthetic and naturally occurring (e.g., mordenite and chabazite) varieties. 

The classifications in Table 16-3 are intended only as a rough guide. For example, a carbon molecular sieve is truly amorphous but has been manufactured to have certain structural, rate-selective properties. Similarly, the extent of hydrophobicity of an activated carbon will depend on its ash content and its level of surface oxidation. 

Cancrinites are one of the rarest members of the feldspathoid group, classified as such due to its low silicon content. However, cancrinite is also classified as a zeolite, due to its open pore structure, which confers molecular sieve properties [1], Likewise, variable sodium carbonate and NaOH concentrations in the hydrothermal synthesis of cancrinite could direct the synthesis of the intermediate phase or the disordered cancrinite formation [2], The intermediate phase is described as a phase between cancrinite and sodalite [3], The disordered cancrinite is an intermediate phase which is much closer to the cancrinite structure than sodalite structure [2],... 

Zeolite molecular sieves are widely used as solid acid catalysts or catalyst components in areas ranging from petroleum refining to the synthesis of intermediates and fine chemicals (112,113). An important reason for their widespread use is the flexibility they oflFer regarding the tailoring of the concentration and nature of catalytically active sites and their immediate environments. We note that discrimination between chemical and structural aspects works well at a conceptual level, but one faces quite severe limitations as soon as one tries to separate the contributions of the two effects. The complexity arises because the chemical properties of a particular molecular sieve are connected with its framework density. 

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