Zeolite topology

As shown in Table 2.1, the improved catalytic performance of alkaline-treated zeolites compared to the parent purely microporous counterparts has been demonstrated decidedly by different groups active in academia and in industry. The positive effect is reflected in the enhanced activity, selectivity, and/or lifetime (coking resistance) of the hierarchical systems. The examples listed embrace not only a variety of zeohte topologies (MFl, MOR, MTW, BEA, and AST) but also reactions involving hghter hydrocarbons as well as bulky molecules. This illustrates the potential of the desihcation treatment, although more work is to be done in optimizing the catalytic system for the wide variety of applications. 

Chemical and electrochemical techniques have been applied for the dimensionally controlled fabrication of a wide variety of materials, such as metals, semiconductors, and conductive polymers, within glass, oxide, and polymer matrices (e.g., [135-137]). Topologically complex structures like zeolites have been used also as 3D matrices [138, 139]. Quantum dots/wires of metals and semiconductors can be grown electrochemically in matrices bound on an electrode surface or being modified electrodes themselves. In these processes, the chemical stability of the template in the working environment, its electronic properties, the uniformity and minimal diameter of the pores, and the pore density are critical factors. Typical templates used in electrochemical synthesis are as follows ... 

Without any doubt, the zeolite framework porous characteristics (micropores sizes and topology) largely govern the zeolite properties and their industrial applications. Nevertheless for some zeolite uses, as for instance, host materials for confined phases, the zeolite inner surface characteristics should be precised to understand their influence on such low dimensionality sorbed systems. In that paper, we present illustrative examples of zeolite inner surface influence on confined methane phases. Our investigation extends from relatively complex zeolite inner surface types (as for MOR structural types) to the model inner surface ones (well illustrated by the AFI zeolite type). Sorption isotherm measurements associated with neutron diffraction experiments are used in the present study. 

Usually, the zeolite inner surface characteristics are rather complex as a consequence of the (3D) character of the porous topologies of most of the zeolite types. The porous framework is a (3D) organization of cavities connected by channels. Inner surfaces are composed of several sorption sites characterized by their local geometry and curvature. Illustrative examples of such inner surface complexity are represented on Figures 1 and 2 they concern the Faujasite and Silicalite-I inner surfaces respectively. 

Extraframework cations are needed in anionic zeolites for charge balance, and for several zeolite topologies their locations are well investigated [281, 282]. Different cations have been investigated by solid state NMR in the past with different NMR properties and different project targets. We restrict this section to a tutorial example on sodium cation motion in sodalite and cancrinite structures [283-285], 23Na has a nuclear electric quadrupole moment, and quadrupolar interaction is useful to investigate jump processes, especially when they are well defined. 

Zeolites are formed by crystallization at temperatures between 80 and 200 °C from aqueous alkaline solutions of silica and alumina gels in a process referred to as hydrothermal synthesis.15,19 A considerable amount is known about the mechanism of the crystallization process, however, no rational procedure, similar to organic synthetic procedures, to make a specifically designed zeolite topology is available. The products obtained are sensitive functions of the reaction conditions (composition of gel, reaction time, order of mixing, gel aging, etc.) and are kinetically controlled. Nevertheless, reproducible procedures have been devised to make bulk quantities of zeolites. Procedures for post-synthetic modifications have also been described.20 22... 

Using the more advanced quantum chemical computational methods it is now possible to determine the fundamental electronic properties of zeolite structural units. The quantum chemical basis of Loewenstein s "aluminum avoidance" rule is explored, and the topological features of energy expectation value functionals within an abstract "nuclear charge space" model yield quick estimates for energy relations for zeolite structural units. 

In general, zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates with microporous channels and/or cages in their structures. The first zeolitic minerals were discovered in 1756 by the Swedish mineralogist Cronstedt [3], Upon heating of the minerals, he observed the release of steam from the crystals and called this new class of minerals zeolites (Greek zeos = to boil, lithos = stone). Currently, about 160 different zeolite structure topologies are known [4] and many of them are found in natural zeolites. However, for catalytic applications only a small number of synthetic zeolites are used. Natural zeolites typically have many impurities and are therefore of limited use for catalytic applications. Synthetic zeolites can be obtained with exactly defined compositions, and desired particle sizes and shapes can be obtained by controlling the crystallization process. 

The connectivity (topology) of the zeolite framework is characteristic for a given zeolite type, whereas the composition of the framework and the type of extra-framework species can vary. Each zeolite structure type is denoted by a three-letter code [4], As an example, Faujasite-type zeolites have the structure type FAU. The pores and cages of the different zeolites are thus formed by modifications of the TO4 connectivity of the zeolite framework. 

The >24 structures of AlP04-based molecular sieves reported to date include zeolite topological analogs and a large number of novel structures. The major structures are shown in Table 1.3. They include 15 novel structures as well as seven structures with framework topologies related to those found in the zeolites... 

In the metal aluminophosphate (MeAPO) family the framework composition contains metal, aluminum and phosphorus [27]. The metal (Me) species include the divalent forms of Co, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn and trivalent Fe. As in the case of SAPO, the MeAPOs exhibit both structural diversity and even more extensive composihonal variation. Seventeen microporous structures have been reported, 11 of these never before observed in zeoUtes. Structure types crystallized in the MeAPO family include framework topologies related to the zeolites, for example, -34 (CHA) and -35 (LEV), and to the AIPO4S, e.g., -5 and -11, as well as novel structures, e.g., -36 (O.Snm pore) and -39 (0.4nm pore). The MeAPOs represent the first demonstrated incorporation of divalent elements into microporous frameworks. 

Tschortnerite (TSC) surely is the most remarkable novel zeohte mineral discovered [67]. Its unique framework topology contains five different cages D-6Rs, D-8Rs, sodahte cages, truncated cubo-octahedra and a unique 96-membered cage. Cu-containmg clusters are encapsulated within the truncated cubo-octahedra. The pore structure is three-dimensional with 8R charmels, and the framework density of 12.2 is among the lowest known for zeolites. The framework is alumina-rich with Si/Al = 1, unusual for zeohte minerals. 

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