The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of mesoporous zeolites by post-synthetic technologies, the properties of resulting materials, and the use of the resulting materials as catalysts in the refining and petrochemical industry.

A process for producing alumina and a lithium salt comprising the steps of: (a) calcining an alpha spodumene ore or concentrate to produce beta spodumene; and (b) (I) leaching beta spodumene from the calcining step (a) with an alkaline solution under pressure; or (II) sulphating beta spodumene with at least sodium sulphate and leaching said sulphated beta spodumene to produce a lithium containing solution and a zeolitic residue. The lithium containing solution is treated to provide a purified lithium salt and said zeolitic residue is treated to provide high purity alumina.

Disclosed herein are modified zeolites and methods for making modified zeolites. In one or more embodiments disclosed herein, a modified zeolite may include a microporous framework including a plurality of micropores having diameters of less than or equal to 2 nm. The microporous framework includes at least silicon atoms and oxygen atoms. The modified zeolite may further include organometallic moieties each bonded to bridging oxygen atoms. The organometallic moieties include a hafnium atom. The hafnium atom is bonded to a bridging oxygen atom, and bridging oxygen atom bridges the hafnium atom of the organometallic moiety and a silicon atom of the microporous framework.

A lithium-ion battery separator includes a substrate defining inter-particle pores and a zeolite coating on a surface of the substrate. The zeolite coating includes zeolite particles. The zeolite particles are hydrophobic and have an average diameter smaller than an average pore size of inter-particle pores of the substrate, such that some of the zeolite particles are positioned in some of the inter-particle pores. The separator is non-flammable In a lithium-ion battery, the substrate is a first electrode, and a second electrode is in direct contact with the zeolite coating. The lithium-ion battery includes a non-flammable salt-concentrated electrolyte, and the zeolite coating has a high wettability for the electrolyte. The lithium-ion battery is non-flammable.

A gas separation method includes supplying a mixed gas to a zeolite membrane complex and permeating a high permeability gas through the zeolite membrane complex to separate the high permeability gas from other gases. The mixed gas includes a high permeability gas and a trace gas that is lower in concentration than the high permeability gas. The molar concentration of a first gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas is higher than the molar concentration of a second gas included in the trace gas in the mixed gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the first gas on the zeolite membrane is less than 60 times that of the high permeability gas. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the second gas on the zeolite membrane is 400 times or more that of the high permeability gas.

A method for manufacturing a zeolite membrane structure comprises an immersion step for immersing a porous substrate in a synthetic sol, and a synthesis step for hydrothermally synthesizing a zeolite membrane on a surface of the porous substrate that has been immersed in the synthesis so. When the foamability of the synthetic sol is measured by a Ross-Miles method under a condition of 25 degrees C., the foam height after elapse of 5 minutes from completion of down flow is less than or equal to 5 mm.

A gas separation method includes supplying a mixed gas to a zeolite membrane complex and permeating a high permeability gas through the zeolite membrane complex to separate the high permeability gas from other gases. The mixed gas includes a high permeability gas and a trace gas that is lower in concentration than the high permeability gas. The trace gas contains an organic substance whose molar concentration in the mixed gas is higher than or equal to 1.0 mol %. The adsorption equilibrium constant of the organic substance on the zeolite membrane is less than 150 times the adsorption equilibrium constant of the high permeability gas.

The present invention relates to a process for the calcination of a zeolitic material, wherein said process comprises the steps of (i) providing a zeolitic material comprising YO.sub.2 and optionally further comprising X.sub.2O.sub.3 in its framework structure in the form of a powder and/or of a suspension of the zeolitic material in a liquid, wherein Y stands for a tetravalent element and X stands for a trivalent element; (ii) atomization of the powder and/or of the suspension of the zeolitic material provided in (i) in a gas stream for obtaining an aerosol; (iii) calcination of the aerosol obtained in (ii) for obtaining a calcined powder; as well as to a zeolitic material obtainable and/or obtained according the inventive process, and to its use as a molecular sieve, as an adsorbent, for ion-exchange, as a catalyst, and/or as a catalyst support.

Molecular sieves comprising intergrowths of cha and aft having an “sfw-GME tail”, at least one structure directing agent (SDA) within the framework of the molecular sieve, an intergrowth of CHA and GME framework structures, cha cavities, and aft cavities are described. A first SDA comprising either an N,N-dimethyl-3,5-dimethylpiperidinium cation or a N,N-diethyl-2,6-dimethylpiperidinium cation is required. A second SDA, which can further be present, is a CHA or an SFW generating cation. The amount of the second SDA-2 used can change the proportion of the components in the cha-aft-“sfw-GME tail”. Activated molecular sieves formed from SDA containing molecular sieves are also described. Compositions for preparing these molecular sieves are described. Methods of preparing a SDA containing JMZ-11, an activated JMZ-11, and metal containing activated JMZ-11 are described. Methods of using activated JMZ-11 and metal containing activated JMZ-11 in a variety of processes, such as treating exhaust gases and converting methanol to olefins are described.

Molecular sieves comprising intergrowths of cha and aft having an “sfw-GME tail”, at least one structure directing agent (SDA) within the framework of the molecular sieve, an intergrowth of CHA and GME framework structures, cha cavities, and aft cavities are described. A first SDA comprising either an N,N-dimethyl-3,5-dimethylpiperidinium cation or a N,N-diethyl-2,6-dimethylpiperidinium cation is required. A second SDA, which can further be present, is a CHA or an SFW generating cation. The amount of the second SDA-2 used can change the proportion of the components in the cha-aft-“sfw-GME tail”. Activated molecular sieves formed from SDA containing molecular sieves are also described. Compositions for preparing these molecular sieves are described. Methods of preparing a SDA containing JMZ-11, an activated JMZ-11, and metal containing activated JMZ-11 are described. Methods of using activated JMZ-11 and metal containing activated JMZ-11 in a variety of processes, such as treating exhaust gases and converting methanol to olefins are described.