Preparation of a FAU-structural-type nanometric zeolite Y having a crystal size of less than 100 nm and an Si/Al ratio that is greater than 2: mixing, in aqueous medium, of at least one AO.sub.2 source of at least one tetravalent element A that is silicon, germanium, and/or titanium, at least one BO.sub.b source of at least one trivalent element B that is aluminum, boron, iron, indium, and/or gallium, at least one C.sub.2/mO source of an alkaline metal or alkaline-earth metal C that is lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and/or magnesium the C.sub.2/mO source also having at least one hydroxide ion source obtaining a gel, curing of the gel after at least 3 days of curing, with addition of at least one source of at least one tetravalent element A and the hydrothermal treatment of the gel obtained at a to achieve crystallization of the FAU-structural-type nanometric zeolite Y.

A hydrocarbon adsorbent having high hydrocarbon adsorbing properties even after exposed to a high temperature/high humidity reducing atmosphere, includes a FAU type zeolite having in ESR measurement a spin concentration of a least 1.0 × 10^19 (spins/g) and a ratio of a peak intensity at a magnetic field of at least 260 mT and at most 270 mT to a peak intensity at a magnetic field of at least 300 mT and at most 320 mT of at least 0.25 and at most 0.50 Å and containing bivalent copper. The hydrocarbon adsorbent may be used for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons to be exposed to a high temperature/high humidity environment, and may be used particularly for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, such as an automobile exhaust gas.

A hydrocarbon adsorbent having high hydrocarbon adsorbing properties even after exposed to a high temperature/high humidity reducing atmosphere, includes a FAU type zeolite having in ESR measurement a spin concentration of a least 1.0 × 10^19 (spins/g) and a ratio of a peak intensity at a magnetic field of at least 260 mT and at most 270 mT to a peak intensity at a magnetic field of at least 300 mT and at most 320 mT of at least 0.25 and at most 0.50 Å and containing bivalent copper. The hydrocarbon adsorbent may be used for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons to be exposed to a high temperature/high humidity environment, and may be used particularly for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, such as an automobile exhaust gas.

A zeolite molded article includes 100 parts by weight of zeolite, 35 parts by weight or more and 70 parts by weight or less of clay, 5 parts by weight or more and 40 parts by weight or less of a silica sol and 0.5 parts by weight or more and 10 parts by weight or less of a water-soluble sodium salt, having an abrasion resistance of 90% or more, an angle of repose of 40° or less, an aerated bulk density on the surface of the zeolite molded article of 0.5 kg/L or more, and a sphericity of the zeolite molded article of 1 or more and 3 or less. The zeolite contains at least one type of zeolite having Si/Al.sub.2 of 10 or more and 100,000 or less and a moisture adsorption amount of 10 (g/100 g) or less at 25° C. under a relative pressure of 0.5.

A zeolite molded article includes 100 parts by weight of zeolite, 35 parts by weight or more and 70 parts by weight or less of clay, 5 parts by weight or more and 40 parts by weight or less of a silica sol and 0.5 parts by weight or more and 10 parts by weight or less of a water-soluble sodium salt, having an abrasion resistance of 90% or more, an angle of repose of 40° or less, an aerated bulk density on the surface of the zeolite molded article of 0.5 kg/L or more, and a sphericity of the zeolite molded article of 1 or more and 3 or less. The zeolite contains at least one type of zeolite having Si/Al.sub.2 of 10 or more and 100,000 or less and a moisture adsorption amount of 10 (g/100 g) or less at 25° C. under a relative pressure of 0.5.

A method of making a molecular sieve may include: reacting a source selected from the group consisting of: a source of a tetrahedral element in the presence of a structure directing agent (SDA) selected from the group consisting of: Ar.sup.+-L-Ar, Ar.sup.+-L-Ar-L-Ar.sup.+, Ar.sup.+-L-Ar-L-NR3.sup.+, and ArAr.sup.+-L-Ar.sup.+Ar, where Ar.sup.+ is to a N-containing cationic aromatic ring, Ar is to a non-charged aromatic ring, L is a methylene chain of 3-6 carbon atoms, NR3.sup.+ is to a quaternary ammonium, and ArAr.sup.+ and Ar.sup.+Ar are a fused aromatic ring structure comprising both a N-containing cationic portion and a non-charged portion, to produce the molecular sieve.

To provide a technique enabling the effective use of a plant-derived Si source. The present technique is capable of providing a production method of a porous material containing Si and Al, in which a first Si source composition that is a plant-derived Si source and an Al source are used as at least raw materials. The first Si source composition may be a Si source recovered when a treatment for recovering the Si source is carried out after a carbonization treatment of a plant-derived raw material. A second Si source composition may be a treatment product obtained by a decarburization treatment of a plant-derived raw material.

To provide a hydrocarbon adsorbent having high hydrocarbon adsorbing properties even after exposed to a high temperature/high humidity reducing atmosphere. A hydrocarbon adsorbent, which includes a FAU type zeolite having a lattice constant of at least 24.29 Å and containing copper. Such a hydrocarbon adsorbent may be used for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons to be exposed to a high temperature/high humidity environment, and may be used particularly for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, such as an automobile exhaust gas.

To provide a hydrocarbon adsorbent having high hydrocarbon adsorbing properties even after exposed to a high temperature/high humidity reducing atmosphere. A hydrocarbon adsorbent, which includes a FAU type zeolite having a lattice constant of at least 24.29 Å and containing copper. Such a hydrocarbon adsorbent may be used for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons to be exposed to a high temperature/high humidity environment, and may be used particularly for a method for adsorbing hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, such as an automobile exhaust gas.

A functional structural body that can realize a prolonged life time by suppressing the decrease in function and that can fulfill resource saving without requiring a complicated replacement operation is provided. A functional structural body includes a skeletal body of a porous structure composed of a zeolite-type compound; and at least one solid acid present in the skeletal body, the skeletal body has channels connecting with each other, and the solid acid is present at least in the channels of the skeletal body.