Union Carbide zeolite catalyst research

In 1955 Union Carbide announced the commercial availability of a number of cationic forms of two synthetic zeolites designated A and X, the latter a synthetic form of the rare mineral faujasite. At this announcement, Mobil Research and Development Corporation, as well as the research and development laboratories of other major petroleum companies, hastened to obtain samples from the Linde Division. In 1955 and 1956 Mobil began to explore the potential use of these materials as adsorbents and catalysts and also began its own program on zeolite synthesis. 

Although the title of this book, Perspectives in Molecular Sieve Science, avoids the zeolite definition controversy, a large majority of the research reported here centers on traditional zeolites. Only three of the 39 chapters comprising the book deal with materials that are clearly nonzeolitic Two cover clay-type derivatives, and one deals with carbon molecular sieves. Not surprisingly, interest in these materials lies in their possible use as catalysts. Only four chapters present work on mineral zeolites and three on aluminum phosphate-type molecular sieves. Two of those chapters are by workers from Union Carbide, the laboratory that did the pioneering work in this field. It is surprising that other workers have not submitted papers on the aluminum phosphates, but perhaps this situation indicates that although much activity may be underway, laboratories hesitate to publish until patent positions are established in this potentially lucrative area. Union Carbide s synthetic faujasites (zeolites X and Y) and zeolite A receive the most attention, while ZSM-5-class materials are accorded more attention than zeolite A alone. This reflects the important roles that zeolites X and Y and ZSM-5 materials have already played as catalysts. 

However, in terms of economic value, zeolites are far more important as catalysts and adsorbents in the chemical and petrochemical industries. In fact, the large success of zeolite catalysts and adsorbents in the petrochemical industry, following commercialisation by Union Carbide in the 1950s and early 1960s, has been likely the more important driving force for zeolite research during half a century. 

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