A method for destructing and valorizing an asbestos waste including the steps of: determining the asbestos mineralogical group contained in the waste, performing a treatment on the waste which includes of: an acid treatment when the waste comprises only a chrysotile, a base treatment when the waste comprises only an amphibole, the acid treatment followed by the base treatment when the asbestos waste includes a mixture of a chrysotile and an amphibole, and valorizing at least one of the products obtained on completion of the performing of the treatment. An embodiment also concerns a treatment of a chrysotile waste through an acid treatment followed by a thermal treatment.

A method for destructing and valorizing an asbestos waste including the steps of: determining the asbestos mineralogical group contained in the waste, performing a treatment on the waste which includes of: an acid treatment when the waste comprises only a chrysotile, a base treatment when the waste comprises only an amphibole, the acid treatment followed by the base treatment when the asbestos waste includes a mixture of a chrysotile and an amphibole, and valorizing at least one of the products obtained on completion of the performing of the treatment. An embodiment also concerns a treatment of a chrysotile waste through an acid treatment followed by a thermal treatment.

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.

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.

A solid particulate composition useful in extracting a lithium salt from aqueous solutions, the composition comprising lithium, metal atoms, oxygen atoms, and at least one anionic species (X) selected from halide, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate and bicarbonate, all in a framework structure, wherein said metal atoms are selected from at least one of oxophilic main group metal and oxophilic transition metal atoms, provided that, if the metal atoms comprise aluminum atoms, then at least 10 mol % of said aluminum atoms are substituted with at least one metal atom selected from said at least one oxophilic main group and oxophilic transition metal atoms, other than aluminum, and wherein said lithium is present in said composition in an amount less than a saturated amount in order to permit extraction of lithium salt. Methods for extracting and recovering a lithium salt from an aqueous solution by use of the above-described composition are also described.

A solid particulate composition useful in extracting a lithium salt from aqueous solutions, the composition comprising lithium, metal atoms, oxygen atoms, and at least one anionic species (X) selected from halide, nitrate, sulfate, carbonate and bicarbonate, all in a framework structure, wherein said metal atoms are selected from at least one of oxophilic main group metal and oxophilic transition metal atoms, provided that, if the metal atoms comprise aluminum atoms, then at least 10 mol % of said aluminum atoms are substituted with at least one metal atom selected from said at least one oxophilic main group and oxophilic transition metal atoms, other than aluminum, and wherein said lithium is present in said composition in an amount less than a saturated amount in order to permit extraction of lithium salt. Methods for extracting and recovering a lithium salt from an aqueous solution by use of the above-described composition are also described.

A method for destructing and valorizing an asbestos waste including the steps of: determining the asbestos mineralogical group contained in the waste, performing a treatment on the waste which includes of: an acid treatment when the waste comprises only a chrysotile, a base treatment when the waste comprises only an amphibole, the acid treatment followed by the base treatment when the asbestos waste includes a mixture of a chrysotile and an amphibole, and valorizing at least one of the products obtained on completion of the performing of the treatment. An embodiment also concerns a treatment of a chrysotile waste through an acid treatment followed by a thermal treatment.

A method for destructing and valorizing an asbestos waste including the steps of: determining the asbestos mineralogical group contained in the waste, performing a treatment on the waste which includes of: an acid treatment when the waste comprises only a chrysotile, a base treatment when the waste comprises only an amphibole, the acid treatment followed by the base treatment when the asbestos waste includes a mixture of a chrysotile and an amphibole, and valorizing at least one of the products obtained on completion of the performing of the treatment. An embodiment also concerns a treatment of a chrysotile waste through an acid treatment followed by a thermal treatment.

Methods of controlling crystal polymorphism in organic-free synthesis of Na-Zeolites and the zeolite crystals formed using those methods are provided. The methods disclosed herein create certain types of zeolite crystals more efficiently than other previously known methods. The methods also create certain types of zeolite crystals in a form and concentration not previously disclosed. The methods disclosed herein generally comprise using solutions with varying ratios of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), hydroxide (OH), and water. Some implementations of the invention disclosed include efficient methods of producing nearly pure cancrinite (CAN), methods of obtaining sodalite in solutions with a high Si/Al ratio, and a method of forming thin, platelet-like ANA crystals with a width of less than about 1 m and a length of at least about 3 m.

Methods of controlling crystal polymorphism in organic-free synthesis of Na-Zeolites and the zeolite crystals formed using those methods are provided. The methods disclosed herein create certain types of zeolite crystals more efficiently than other previously known methods. The methods also create certain types of zeolite crystals in a form and concentration not previously disclosed. The methods disclosed herein generally comprise using solutions with varying ratios of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), hydroxide (OH), and water. Some implementations of the invention disclosed include efficient methods of producing nearly pure cancrinite (CAN), methods of obtaining sodalite in solutions with a high Si/Al ratio, and a method of forming thin, platelet-like ANA crystals with a width of less than about 1 m and a length of at least about 3 m.