Methods and phosphorus-containing solid catalysts for catalyzing dehydration of cyclic ethers (e.g., furans, such as 2,5-dimethylfuran) and alcohols (e.g., ethanol and isopropanol). The alcohols and cyclic ethers may be derived from biomass. One example includes a tandem Diels-Alder cycloaddition and dehydration of biomass-derived 2,5-dimethyl-furan and ethylene to renewable p-xylene. The phosphorus-containing solid catalysts are also active and selective for dehydration of alcohols to alkenes.

Provided are methods for hydrolyzing and condensing organooxysilanes using aprotic catalysts comprising silanes containing one or more groups that are the anions derived from strong acids, and/or aprotic catalysts comprising aprotic derivatives of strong acids such as acid esters, acid chlorides, or acid anhydrides. The methods are applicable, e.g., to restoration of dielectric properties of electrical cables by injecting a dielectric enhancement fluid composition containing one or more of the disclosed aprotic catalysts into the interior of an electrical cable having a central stranded conductor encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor. Relative to use of protic strong acid catalysts, the disclosed aprotic catalyst methods have utility to reduce or eliminate corrosion of the conductor during treatment with the dielectric enhancement fluid.

Provided are methods for hydrolyzing and condensing organooxysilanes using aprotic catalysts comprising silanes containing one or more groups that are the anions derived from strong acids, and/or aprotic catalysts comprising aprotic derivatives of strong acids such as acid esters, acid chlorides, or acid anhydrides. The methods are applicable, e.g., to restoration of dielectric properties of electrical cables by injecting a dielectric enhancement fluid composition containing one or more of the disclosed aprotic catalysts into the interior of an electrical cable having a central stranded conductor encased in a polymeric insulation jacket and having an interstitial void volume in the region of the conductor. Relative to use of protic strong acid catalysts, the disclosed aprotic catalyst methods have utility to reduce or eliminate corrosion of the conductor during treatment with the dielectric enhancement fluid.

A family of highly charged crystalline microporous metallophosphate molecular sieves designated PST-19 has been synthesized. These high charge density metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula of:

R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sup.+.sub.mM.sup.2+.sub.xE.sub.yPO.sub.z

where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as tetraethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as zinc and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The PST-19 family of materials are among the first MeAPO-type molecular sieves to be stabilized by combinations of alkali and quaternary ammonium cations, enabling unique compositions. The PST-19 family of molecular sieves has the SBS topology and catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

A family of highly charged crystalline microporous metallophosphate molecular sieves designated PST-16 has been synthesized. These metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula of:

R.sup.p+.sub.rA.sub.m.sup.+M.sub.xE.sub.yPO.sub.z

where A is an alkali metal such as potassium, R is an organoammonium cation such as ethyltrimethylammonium, M is a divalent metal such as zinc and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The PST-16 family of molecular sieves are stabilized by combinations of alkali and organoammonium cations, enabling unique metalloalumino(gallo)phosphate compositions and exhibit the CGS topology. The PST-17 family of molecular sieves has catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes and separation properties for separating at least one component.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a molecular sieve catalyst. A water-in-oil micro-emulsion including a continuous phase containing an organic solvent and a dispersed phase containing an aqueous solution containing one or more metal salts and a water-soluble organic carbon source is prepared, hydrolyzed, and azeotropically distilled to form a mixture solution. The mixture solution is heated to carbonize the water-soluble organic carbon source to form nanoparticles each having a core-shell structure including a carbon-shelled metal-oxide. The nanoparticles containing the carbon-shelled metal-oxide are dispersed in a molecular sieve precursor solution. A nanoparticle-loaded molecular sieve is formed from the molecular sieve precursor solution containing the nanoparticles, and then calcined to remove carbon there-from to form a metal-oxide loaded molecular sieve.

STA-18, a molecular sieve having a SFW structure and containing phosphorus in the framework, is described. STA-18AP (as prepared) can have a lower alkyl amine, such as trimethylamine, and one of 1,6-(1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane)hexyl cations (from diDABCO-C6) or 1,7-(1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane)heptyl cations (from diDABCO-C7) or 1,8-(1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane)octyl cations (from diDABCO-C8) as SDAs. A lower alkyl ammonium hydroxide, such as tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, can be used as a pH modifier for making SAPO STA-18. A calcined product, STA-18C, formed from STA-18AP is also described. Methods of preparing STA-18AP, STA-18C and metal containing calcined counterparts of STA-18C are described along with methods of using STA-18C and metal containing calcined counterparts of STA-18C in a variety of processes, such as treating exhaust gases and converting methanol to olefins are described.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth content of about 4-11% by weight on the basis of rare earth oxide, a sodium content of no more than about 0.7% by weight on the basis of sodium oxide, a zinc content of about 0.5-5% by weight on the basis of zinc oxide, a phosphorus content of about 0.05-10% by weight on the basis of phosphorus pentoxide, a framework silica-alumina ratio of about 7-14 calculated on the basis of SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio, a percentage of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 20%, and a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 15-30%. The modified Y-type molecular sieve has a high crystallinity, a structure comprising secondary pores, and a high thermal and hydrothermal stability.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth content of about 4-11% by weight on the basis of rare earth oxide, a sodium content of no more than about 0.7% by weight on the basis of sodium oxide, a zinc content of about 0.5-5% by weight on the basis of zinc oxide, a phosphorus content of about 0.05-10% by weight on the basis of phosphorus pentoxide, a framework silica-alumina ratio of about 7-14 calculated on the basis of SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio, a percentage of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 20%, and a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 15-30%. The modified Y-type molecular sieve has a high crystallinity, a structure comprising secondary pores, and a high thermal and hydrothermal stability.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth content of about 4-11% by weight on the basis of rare earth oxide, a sodium content of no more than about 0.7% by weight on the basis of sodium oxide, a zinc content of about 0.5-5% by weight on the basis of zinc oxide, a phosphorus content of about 0.05-10% by weight on the basis of phosphorus pentoxide, a framework silica-alumina ratio of about 7-14 calculated on the basis of SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio, a percentage of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 20%, and a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 15-30%. The modified Y-type molecular sieve has a high crystallinity, a structure comprising secondary pores, and a high thermal and hydrothermal stability.