Innovation In Zeolite Materials Science

The proceedings of this zeolite scientific meeting reflect the growing drive to discover new materials. It is evident that zeolite materials science is in a post-ZSM-5 period - pushed by a massive expansion of new compositions and topologies, and the application of new scientific tools. Four new zeolite topologies were detailed at this meeting. Important new trends were the resurgence of interest in computational and theoretical approaches to explain synthesis, sorption and catalytic data, and the increasing use of NMR and high-resolution imaging.

Zeolites are the most frequently used industrial catalysts. Their applications range from oil refining, petrochemistry and the synthesis of special chemicals to environmental catalysis. Rapid progress in basic research and the development of new processes has resulted in the first Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA) School on Zeolites. Zeolites and Ordered Mesoporous Materials: Progress and Prospects reflects the programme of the first School on Zeolites, held in Prague on August 20-21, 2005. Readers gain insight into the synthesis of the ever-expanding spectrum of zeolites, zeotypes and ordered mesoporous materials including the use of zeolites and mesoporous materials as catalysts in organic conversions. These range from the fascinating ship-in-bottle systems via cascade reactions to bulk applications in oil-refining and petrochemistry. Contributions from world experts enhance the book, with select chapters on trends in the molecular sieves field, zeolite structures, ion-exchange properties of zeolites, advanced applications (with unique technologies and opportunities) and a chapter on natural zeolites. * Contains contributions from world experts in the field * Includes an account of the frontier topic of high-throughput techniques * Reviews the application of quantum-chemical methods to zeolite science to show the necessity of combining experimental and theoretical approaches

Zeolites occur in nature and have been known for almost 250 years as alumino silicate minerals. Examples are clinoptilolite, mordenite, offretite, ferrierite, erionite and chabazite. Today, most of these and many other zeolites are of great interest in heterogeneous catalysis, yet their naturally occurring forms are of limited value as catalysts because nature has not optimized their properties for catalytic applications and the naturally occurring zeolites almost always contain undesired impurity phases. It was only with the advent of synthetic zeolites in the period from about 1948 to 1959 (thanks to the pioneering work of R. M. Barrer and R. M. Milton) that this class of porous materials began to playa role in catalysis. A landmark event was the introduction of synthetic faujasites (zeolite X at first, zeolite Y slightly later) as catalysts in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) of heavy petroleum distillates in 1962, one of the most important chemical processes with a worldwide capacity of the order of 500 million t/a. Compared to the previously used amorphous silica-alumina catalysts, the zeolites were not only orders of magnitude more active, which enabled drastic process engineering improvements to be made, but they also brought about a significant increase in the yield of the target product, viz. motor gasoline. With the huge FCC capacity worldwide, the added value of this yield enhancement is of the order of 10 billion US $ per year.

This two-volume work contains over 140 papers which, together, reflect the current status of zeolite science and technology encompassing high and low silica zeolites, pillared clays, molecular sieves, microporous metallosilicates, crystalline silica polymorphs, crystalline microporous aluminophosphates and their isomorphically substituted forms. The five plenary invited lectures summarize current knowledge and address a number of topical areas such as the enumeration of theoretically possible frameworks, the use of sophisticated physical methods to unravel and characterise new molecular sieve materials, the potential of molecular sieves as catalysts for chemical intermediate and commodity synthesis and conversion, the role of zeolites in fluid catalytic cracking, and new zeolitic materials. Specific aspects of zeolite science are highlighted in the ten keynote lectures of which three are on synthesis and modification, one on new materials, one on characterization, two on structure and theory, one on metals in zeolites, and two on catalytic topics. All the contributions in this book reflect the high quality of research being carried out throughout the zeolite community.

The Handbook of Zeolite Science and Technology offers effective analyses ofsalient cases selected expressly for their relevance to current and prospective research. Presenting the principal theoretical and experimental underpinnings of zeolites, this international effort is at once complete and forward-looking, combining fundamental concepts with the most sophisticated data for each scientific subtopic and budding technology. Supplying over 750 figures, and 350 display equations, this impressive achievement in zeolite science observes synthesis through the lens of MFI (ZSM-5 and silicalite). Chapters progress from conceptual building blocks to complex research presentations.

Interest in zeolites continues to grow, making it vital to keep up to date with recent findings. These proceedings include some of the latest discoveries in the zeolite field. Four plenary lectures provide in-depth coverage of key topics, namely the influence of diffusion on catalysis, recent advances in synthesis, modification of zeolites by alumination, and quantum chemical studies of acidity. These are followed by nineteen papers written by contributors from all over the world covering a wide range of material of current interest. Several synthetic studies are presented, including the introduction of heteroatoms to induce higher catalytic acidity. Acidity and catalysis are probed by solid-state NMR and discussed through theoretical calculations. Two papers are concerned with the growing interest in using zeolites to catalyze shape-selective organic reactions. There are specific studies of zeolite characterization by NMR and electron energy loss spectroscopy. There are also a number of quantum chemical papers on zeolite stability and on the location of adsorbed species. The material presented is particularly up-to-date and will be of considerable interest to all research groups involved in zeolite sciences.