The present invention relates to the synthesis of succinimides, in particular to a method for the synthesis of a succinimide compound, comprising the step of reacting an alkyne, with carbon monoxide and ammonia or an amine, in the presence of an iron catalyst, wherein the reaction is carried out in an amine liquid phase and/or in the absence of an ether solvent. The succinimides may be reduced to quaternary ammonium cations which may be used as structure directing agents in the synthesis of molecular sieves.

Provided is a separation membrane that when used in membrane separation of a mixture of a linear hydrocarbon and a branched hydrocarbon and/or cyclic hydrocarbon of equivalent carbon number to the linear hydrocarbon, can efficiently separate the linear hydrocarbon and the branched hydrocarbon and/or cyclic hydrocarbon. The separation membrane includes a porous support and a porous separation layer disposed on the porous support and containing an MFI-type zeolite. In an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained through X-ray diffraction measurement of the porous separation layer, the intensities of diffraction peaks attributed to specific MFI-type zeolite crystal planes satisfy specific relationships.

Provided is a separation membrane that when used in membrane separation of a mixture of a linear hydrocarbon and a branched hydrocarbon and/or cyclic hydrocarbon of equivalent carbon number to the linear hydrocarbon, can efficiently separate the linear hydrocarbon and the branched hydrocarbon and/or cyclic hydrocarbon. The separation membrane includes a porous support and a porous separation layer disposed on the porous support and containing an MFI-type zeolite. In an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained through X-ray diffraction measurement of the porous separation layer, the intensities of diffraction peaks attributed to specific MFI-type zeolite crystal planes satisfy specific relationships.

A new family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites has been synthesized and designated as UZM-54. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula:
M.sub.m.sup.n+R.sub.1 r1.sup.p.sub.1.sup.+R.sub.2 r2.sup.p.sub.2.sup.+Al.sub.1-xE.sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M is an alkali, alkaline earth, or rare earth metal such as sodium or strontium, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are organoammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium, iron, boron, or indium. These zeolites are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns, high meso-surface areas and low Si/Al.sub.2 ratios and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes.

A new family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites has been synthesized and designated as UZM-54. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula:
M.sub.m.sup.n+R.sub.1 r1.sup.p.sub.1.sup.+R.sub.2 r2.sup.p.sub.2.sup.+Al.sub.1-xE.sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z
where M is an alkali, alkaline earth, or rare earth metal such as sodium or strontium, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are organoammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium, iron, boron, or indium. These zeolites are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns, high meso-surface areas and low Si/Al.sub.2 ratios and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes.

A process for the production of para-xylene is presented. The process includes the isomerization of C8 aromatics to para-xylene utilizing a new catalyst. The new catalyst and designated as UZM-54 is represented by the empirical composition in the as synthesized and anhydrous basis expressed by the empirical formula of:

M.sub.m.sup.n+R.sub.1 r1.sup.p.sub.1.sup.+ R.sub.2 r2.sup.p.sub.2.sup.+ Al.sub.1-xE.sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z

where M is an alkali, alkaline earth, or rare earth metal such as sodium and/or potassium, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are organoammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium, iron, boron, or indium. UZM-54 are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns, high meso surface area, low Si/Al ratios.

A process for the production of para-xylene is presented. The process includes the isomerization of C8 aromatics to para-xylene utilizing a new catalyst. The new catalyst and designated as UZM-54 is represented by the empirical composition in the as synthesized and anhydrous basis expressed by the empirical formula of:

M.sub.m.sup.n+R.sub.1 r1.sup.p.sub.1.sup.+ R.sub.2 r2.sup.p.sub.2.sup.+ Al.sub.1-xE.sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z

where M is an alkali, alkaline earth, or rare earth metal such as sodium and/or potassium, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are organoammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium, iron, boron, or indium. UZM-54 are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns, high meso surface area, low Si/Al ratios.

A process for the post-treatment of a zeolitic material, the process comprising (i) providing a zeolitic material, wherein the framework structure of the zeolitic material comprises YO.sub.2 and X.sub.2O.sub.3, wherein Y is a tetravalent element and X is a trivalent element; (ii) subjecting the zeolitic material provided in (i) to a method comprising (a) treating the zeolitic material with an aqueous solution having a pH of at most 5, (b) treating the zeolitic material obtained from (a) with a liquid aqueous system having a pH in the range of 5.5 to 8 and a temperature of at least 75 C.; wherein in (ii) and after (b), the zeolitic material is optionally subjected to at least one further treatment according to (a) and/or at least one further treatment according to (b).

A process for the post-treatment of a zeolitic material, the process comprising (i) providing a zeolitic material, wherein the framework structure of the zeolitic material comprises YO.sub.2 and X.sub.2O.sub.3, wherein Y is a tetravalent element and X is a trivalent element; (ii) subjecting the zeolitic material provided in (i) to a method comprising (a) treating the zeolitic material with an aqueous solution having a pH of at most 5, (b) treating the zeolitic material obtained from (a) with a liquid aqueous system having a pH in the range of 5.5 to 8 and a temperature of at least 75 C.; wherein in (ii) and after (b), the zeolitic material is optionally subjected to at least one further treatment according to (a) and/or at least one further treatment according to (b).

A dehydration method is a dehydration method for selectively separating water from a mixture that contains water, and the method includes a step of supplying the mixture to a supply side space of a separation membrane, and a step of making a pressure difference between the supply side space and a permeation side space of the separation membrane. The separation membrane includes a first zeolite membrane that faces the permeation side space and is constituted by a first zeolite and a second zeolite membrane that faces the supply side space and is adjacent to the first zeolite membrane. The second zeolite membrane is constituted by a second zeolite that has the same framework structure as framework of the first zeolite and has a lower Si/Al atom ratio than a Si/Al atom ratio of the first zeolite.