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Molecular Sieve Patent

 

Beryllium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieve compositions

Molecular sieve abstract

Molecular sieve compositions having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral oxide units are disclosed. These molecular sieves have an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula: wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 ; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. Their use as adsorbents, catalysts, etc. is also disclosed.

Molecular sieve claims

We claim:

1. Crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B, C, D, E and F of FIG. 1 said crystalline molecular sieves having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables A to H and J to V:

2. Crystalline molecular sieves according to claim 1 wherein the mole fractions or beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by points a, b, c and d of FIG. 2.

3. Crystalline molecular sieves according to claim 2 wherein the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the triangular compositional area defined by points e, f and g of FIG. 2.

4. Crystalline molecular sieves according to claim 1 wherein "m" is not greater than about 0.15.

5. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table A given in claim 1.

6. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 5 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table A contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables AA and AB:

7. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table B given in claim 1.

8. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 7 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table B contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables BA and BB:

9. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table C given in claim 1.

10. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table D given in claim 1.

11. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table E given in claim 1.

12. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table F given in claim 1.

13. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table G given in claim 1.

14. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 13 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table G contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables GA and GB:

15. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table H given in claim 1.

16. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table J given in claim 1.

17. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table K given in claim 1.

18. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table L given in claim 1.

19. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 18 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table L contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables LA, LB and LC:

20. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table M given in claim 1.

21. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table N given in claim 1.

22. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 21 wherein the x-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table N contains at least the d-spacings set forth in the following Table NA:

23. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table 0 given in claim 1.

24. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table P given in claim 1.

25. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table Q given in claim 1.

26. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table R given in claim 1.

27. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table S given in claim 1.

28. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table T given in claim 1.

29. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table U given in claim 1.

30. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 1 or 2 having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in Table V given in claim 1.

31. Process for preparing crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 Al.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B, C, D, E and F of FIG. 1 said crystalline molecular sieves having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables A to H and J to V:

the process comprising providing a reaction mixture composition at an effective temperature and for an effective time sufficient to produce the molecular sieves, said reaction mixture composition being expressed in terms of molar oxide ratios as follows:

wherein "R" is an organic templating agent; "a" is the amount of "R" and is an effective amount greater than zero to about 6; "b" has a value of from zero to about 500; and "u", "v" and "w" represent the mole fractions, respectively, of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus in the (Be.sub.u Al.sub.v P.sub.w)O.sub.2 constituent, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

32. Process according to claim 31 wherein "x", "y" and "z" are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K of FIG. 3.

33. Process according to claim 32 wherein "x", "y" and "z" are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points g, h, i, j and k of FIG. 3.

34. Process according to claim 31 wherein "a" is not greater than about 1.5.

35. Process according to claim 31 wherein "b" has a value of from 2 to 50.

36. Process according to claim 31 wherein the source of phosphorus in the reaction mixture is orthophosphoric acid.

37. Process according to claim 31 wherein the source of phosphorus in the reaction mixture is orthophosphoric acid and the source of aluminum is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of pseudo-boehmite and aluminum alkoxide.

38. Process according to claim 37 wherein the aluminum alkoxide is aluminum isopropoxide.

39. Process according to claim 31 wherein the source of beryllium is selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, alkoxides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, sulfates, nitrates, carboxylates and mixtures thereof.

40. Process according to claim 31 or claim 32 wherein the organic templating agent is a quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium compound having the formula:

wherein X is nitrogen or phosphorus and each R is an alkyl or aryl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

41. Process according to claim 31 wherein the organic templating agent is an amine.

42. Process according to claim 31 wherein the templating agent is selected from the group consisting of tetrapropylammonium ion; tetraethylammonium ion; tripropylamine; triethylamine; triethanolamine; piperidine; cyclohexylamine; 2-methyl pyridine; N,N-dimethylbenzylamine; N,N-dimethylethanolamine; choline; N,N-dimethylpiperazine; 14-diaziabicyclo-(222) octane; N-methyldiethanolamine; N-methylethanolamine; N-methylpiperidine; 3-methylpiperidine; N-methylcyclohexylamine; 3-methylpyridine; 4-methylpyridine; quinuclidine; N,N'-dimethyl-14-diazabicyclo (222) octane ion; tetramethylammonium ion; tetrabutylammonium ion; tetrapentylammonium ion; di-n-butylamine; neopentylamine; d-n-pentylamine; isopropylamine; t-butylamine; ethylenediamine; pyrrolidone; 2-imidazolidone; di-n-propylamine; and a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt [(C.sub.14 H.sub.32 N.sub.2)(OH).sub.2 ].sub.x wherein x has a value of at least 2.

43. Molecular sieves prepared by calcining, at a temperature sufficiently high to remove at least some of any organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system, the crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B, C, D, E and F of FIG. 1 said crystalline molecular sieves having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables A to H and J to V:

44. Crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B, C, D, E and F of FIG. 1.

45. Crystalline molecular sieves according to claim 44 wherein the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by points a, b, c and d of FIG. 2.

46. Crystalline molecular sieves according to claim 45 wherein the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the triangular compositional area defined by points e, f and g of FIG. 2.

47. The crystalline molecular sieves according to claim 44 wherein "m" is not greater than about 0.15.

48. Process for preparing crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B C, D, and E and F of FIG. 1 the process comprising providing a reaction mixture composition at an effective temperature and for an effective time sufficient to produce the molecular sieves, said reaction mixture composition being expressed in terms of molar oxide radios as follows:

wherein "R" is an organic templating agent; "a" is the amount of "R" and is an effective amount greater than zero to about 6; "b" has a value of from zero to about 500; and "u". "v" and "w" represent the mole fractions, respectively, of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus in the (Be.sub.u Al.sub.v P.sub.w)O.sub.2 constituent, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

49. Process according to claim 48 wherein "x", "y" and "z" are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K of FIG. 3.

50. Process according to claim 49 wherein "x", "y" and "x" are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points g, h, i, j and k of FIG. 3.

51. Process according to claim 48 wherein "a" is not greater than about 1.5.

52. Process according to claim 48 wherein "b" has a value of from 2 to 50.

53. Process according to claim 48 wherein the source of phosphorus in the reaction mixture is orthophosphoric acid.

54. Process according to claim 48 wherein the source of phosphorus in the reaction mixture is orthophosphoric acid and the source of aluminum is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of pseudo-boehmite and aluminum alkoxide.

55. Process according to claim 54 wherein the aluminum alkoxide is aluminum isopropoxide.

56. Process according to claim 48 wherein the source of beryllium is selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, alkoxides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, sulfates, nitrates, carboxylates and mixtures thereof.

57. Process according to claim 48 wherein the organic templating agent is a quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium compound having the formula:

wherein X is nitrogen or phosphorus and each R is an alkyl or aryl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

58. Process according to claim 48 wherein the organic templating agent is an amine.

59. Process according to claim 48 wherein the templating agent is selected from the group consisting of tetrapropylammonium ion; tetraethylammonium ion; tripropylamine; triethylamine; triethanolamine; piperidine; cyclohexylamine; 2-methyl pyridine; N,N-dimethylbenzylamine; N,N-dimethylethanolamine; choline; N,N-dimethylpiperazine; 14-diaziabicyclo-(222) octane; N-methyldiethanolamine; N-methylethanolamine; N-methylpiperidine; 3-methylpiperidine; N-methylcyclohexylamine; 3-methylpyridine; 4-methylpyridine; quinuclidine; N,N,dimethyl-14-diazabicyclo (222) octane ion; tetramethylammonium ion; tetrabutylammonium ion; tetrapentylammonium ion; di-n-butylamine; neopentylamine; di-n-pentylamine; isopropylamine; t-butylamine; ethylenediamine; pyrrolidine; 2-imidazolidone; di-n-propylamine; and a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt [(C.sub.14 H.sub.32 N.sub.2)(OH).sub.2 ].sub.x wherein x has a value of at least 2.

60. Molecular sieves prepared by calcining, at a temperature sufficiently high to remove at least some of any organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system, the crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B, C, D and E and F of FIG. 1

Molecular sieve description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a novel class of crystalline microporous molecular sieves and to the method of their preparation. The invention relates to novel beryllium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieves containing framework tetrahedral oxide units of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus. These compositions may be prepared hydrothermally from gels containing reactive compounds of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus capable of forming framework tetrahedral oxides, and preferably at least one organic templating agent which functions in part to determine the course of the crystallization mechanism and the structure of the crystalline product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Molecular sieves of the crystalline alumino-silicate zeolite type are well known in the art and now comprise over 150 species of both naturally occurring and synthetic compositions. In general the crystalline zeolites are formed from corner-sharing AlO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedra and are characterized by having pore openings of uniform dimensions, having a significant ion-exchange capacity and being capable of reversibly desorbing an adsorbed phase which is dispersed throughout the internal voids of the crystal without displacing any atoms which make up the permanent crystal structure.

Other crystalline microporous compositions which are not zeolitic, i.e. do not contain AlO.sub.2 tetrahedra as essential framework constituents, but which exhibit the ion-exchange and/or adsorption characteristics of the zeolites are also known. Metal organosilicates which are said to possess ion-exchange properties, have uniform pores and are capable of reversibly adsorbing molecules having molecular diameters of about 6 .ANG. or less, are reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3941871 issued Mar. 2 1976 to Dwyer et al. A pure silica polymorph, silicalite, having molecular sieving properties and a neutral framework containing neither cations nor cation sites is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4061724 issued Dec. 6 1977 to R. W. Grose et al.

A recently reported class of microporous compositions and the first framework oxide molecular sieves synthesized without silica, are the crystalline aluminophosphate compositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4310440 issued Jan. 12 1982 to Wilson et al. These materials are formed from AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedra and have electrovalently neutral frameworks as in the case of silica polymorphs. Unlike the silica molecular sieve, silicalite, which is hydrophobic due to the absence of extra-structural cations, the aluminophosphate molecular sieves are moderately hydrophilic, apparently due to the difference in electronegativity between aluminum and phosphorus. Their intracrystalline pore volumes and pore diameters are comparable to those known for zeolites and silica molecular sieves.

In U.S. Pat. Nc. 4440871 there is described a novel class of silicon-substituted aluminophosphates which are both microporous and crystalline. The materials have a three dimensional crystal framework of PO.sub.2.sup.+, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral units and, exclusive of any alkali metal or calcium which may optionally be present, an as-synthesized empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis of:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the moles of "R" present per mole of (Si.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to 0.3 the maximum value in each case depending upon the molecular dimensions of the templating agent and the available void volume of the pore system of the particular silicoaluminophosphate species involved; and "x", "y", and "z" represent the mole fractions of silicon, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The minimum value for each of "x", "y", and "z" is 0.01 and preferably 0.02. The maximum value for "x" is 0.98; for "y" is 0.60; and for "z" is 0.52. These silicoaluminophosphates exhibit several physical and chemical properties which are characteristic of aluminosilicate zeolites and aluminophosphates.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4500651 there is described a novel class of titanium-containing molecular sieves whose chemical composition in the as-synthesized and anhydrous form is represented by the unit empirical formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the moles of "R" present per mole of (Ti.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of between zero and about 5.0; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of titanium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4567029 there is described a novel class of crystalline metal aluminophosphates having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of MO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units and having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the moles of "R" present per mole of (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to 0.3; "M" represents at least one metal of the group magnesium, manganese, zinc and cobalt; "x", "y", and "z" represent the mole fractions of the metal "M", aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4544143 there is described a novel class of crystalline ferroaluminophosphates having a three-dimensional microporous framework structure of FeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units and having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the moles of "R" present per mole of (Fe.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the iron, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides.

The instant invention relates to new molecular sieve compositions having framework tetrahedral units of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to the instant compositions are set forth as mole fractions.

FIG. 2 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to preferred compositions are set forth as mole fractions.

FIG. 3 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to the reaction mixtures employed in the preparation of the compositions of this invention are set forth as mole fractions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a new class of beryllium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieves having a crystal framework structure of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units. These new molecular sieves exhibit ion-exchange, adsorption and catalytic properties and, accordingly, find wide use as adsorbents and catalysts. The members of this novel class of compositions have crystal framework structures of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units and have an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. These molecular sieve compositions comprise crystalline molecular sieves having a three-dimensional microporous framework structure of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units.

The molecular sieves of the instant invention will be generally referred to by the acronym "BeAPO" to designate the framework of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units. Actual class members will be identified by denominating the various structural species which make up the BeAPO class by assigning a number and, accordingly, are identified as "BeAPO-i" wherein "i" is an integer. The given species designation is not intended to denote a similarity in structure to any other species denominated by a numbering system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a new class of beryllium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieves comprising a crystal framework structure of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units. These new molecular sieves exhibit ion-exchange, adsorption and catalytic properties and, accordingly, find wide use as adsorbents and catalysts.

The BeAPO molecular sieves have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 AlO.sub.2.sup.-, and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at least one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Be.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 a value of zero to about 0.3 but is preferably not greater than about 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y", and "z" are generally defined as being within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points A, B, C, D, E and F of the ternary diagram of FIG. 1. Points A, B, C, D, E and F of FIG. 1 have the following values for "x", "y", and "z":

______________________________________ Mole Fraction Point x y z ______________________________________ A 0.01 0.60 0.39 B 0.01 0.39 0.60 C 0.39 0.01 0.60 D 0.60 0.01 0.39 E 0.60 0.39 0.01 F 0.39 0.60 0.01 ______________________________________

In a preferred subclass of the BeAPO molecular sieves the values of "x", "y" and "z" in the above formula are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by the points a, b, c and d of the ternary diagram which is FIG. 2 of the drawings, said points a, b, c and d representing the following values for "x", "y" and "z":

______________________________________ Mole Fraction Point x y z ______________________________________ a 0.01 0.60 0.39 b 0.01 0.39 0.60 c 0.35 0.05 0.60 d 0.35 0.60 0.05 ______________________________________

In an especially preferred subclass of the BeAPO molecular sieves the values of "x", "y" and "z" in the formula are within the triangular compositional area defined by the points e, f and g of the ternary diagram which is FIG. 2 of the drawings, said points e, f and g representing the following values for "x", "y" and "z":

______________________________________ Mole Fraction Point x y z ______________________________________ e 0.02 0.46 0.52 f 0.10 0.38 0.52 g 0.10 0.46 0.44 ______________________________________

The BeAPOs of this invention are useful as adsorbents, catalysts, ion-exchangers, and the like in much the same fashion as aluminosilicates have been employed heretofore, although their chemical and physical properties are not necessarily similar to those observed for aluminosilicates.

BeAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, preferably an organic templating, i.e., structure-directing, agent, preferably a compound of an element of Group VA of the Periodic Table, and/or optionally an alkali or other metal. The reaction mixture is generally placed in a sealed pressure vessel, preferably lined with an inert plastic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene and heated, preferably under autogenous pressure, at a temperature between 50.degree. and 250.degree. C., and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C., until crystals of the BeAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical crystallization times are from about 2 hours to about 30 days with from about 4 hours to about 14 days, and preferably about 1 to about 7 days, being generally employed to obtain crystals of the BeAPO products The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the BeAPO compositions of the instant invention, it is preferred to employ a reaction mixture composition expressed in terms of the molar ratios as follows:

wherein "R" is an organic templating agent; "a" is the amount of organic templating agent "R" and has a value of from zero to about 6 and is preferably an effective amount within the range of greater than zero (0) to about 6 and most preferably not more than about 1.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500 preferably between about 2 and about 300 most preferably not more than about 50; and "u", "v" and "w" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01. The mole fractions "u", "v" and "w" in the reaction mixture are preferably within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K which is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, where points G, H, I, J and K have the following values for "u", "v" and "w":

______________________________________ Mole Fraction Point u v w ______________________________________ G 0.01 0.60 0.39 H 0.01 0.39 0.60 I 0.39 0.01 0.60 J 0.98 0.01 0.01 K 0.39 0.60 0.01 ______________________________________

Especially preferred reaction mixture compositions are those within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points g, h, i, j and k which is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, where points g, h, i j and k have the following values for "u", "v" and "w":

______________________________________ Mole Fraction Point x y z ______________________________________ g 0.04 0.46 0.50 h 0.16 0.34 0.50 i 0.17 0.34 0.49 j 0.17 0.43 0.40 k 0.14 0.46 0.40 ______________________________________

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of u+v+w=1.00 mole, whereas in the examples the reaction mixtures are expressed in terms of the molar oxide ratios and may be normalized to 1.00 mole of P.sub.2 O.sub.5. This latter form is readily converted to the former form by routine calculation by dividing the total number of moles of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus into the moles of each of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus. The moles of template and water are similarly normalized.

In forming the reaction mixture from which the instant molecular sieves are formed the organic templating agent can be any of these heretofore proposed for use in the synthesis of conventional zeolite aluminosilicates. In general these compounds contain elements of Group VA of the Periodic Table of Elements, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic and antimony, preferably nitrogen or phosphorus and most preferably nitrogen, which compounds also contain at least one alkyl or aryl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred compounds for use as templating agents are the amines, quaternary phosphonium and quaternary ammonium compounds, the latter being represented generally by the formula R.sub.4 X.sup.+ wherein "X" is nitrogen or phosphorus and each R is an alkyl or aryl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Polymeric quaternary ammonium salts such as [(C.sub.14 H.sub.32 N.sub.2)(OH).sub.2 ].sub.x wherein "x" has a value of at least 2 are also suitably employed. The mono-, di- and tri-amines are advantageously utilized, either alone or in combination with a quaternary ammonium compound or other templating compound. Mixtures of two or more templating agents can either produce mixtures of the desired BeAPOs or the more strongly directing templating species may control the course of the reaction with the other templating species serving primarily to establish the pH conditions of the reaction gel. Representative templating agents include tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, tetrapropylammonium or tetrabutylammonium ions; tetrapentylammonium ion; di-n-propylamine; tripropylamine; triethylamine; triethanolamine; piperidine; cyclohexylamine; 2-methylpyridine; N,N-dimethylbenzylamine; N,N-dimethylethanolamine; choline; N,N'-dimethylpiperazine; 14-diazabicyclo (222) octane; N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine; N-methylpiperidine; 3-methylpiperidine; N-methylcyclohexylamine; 3-methylpyridine; 4-methylpyridine; quinuclidine; N,N'-dimethyl-14-diazabicyclo (222) octane ion; di-n-butylamine; neopentylamine; di-n-pentylamine; isopropylamine; t-butylamine; ethylenediamine; pyrrolidine; and 2-imidazolidone. Not every templating agent will direct the formation of every species of BeAPO, i.e., a single templating agent can, with proper manipulation of the reaction condition, direct the formation of several BeAPO compositions, and a given BeAPO composition can be produced using several different templating agents.

The reactive phosphorus source is preferably phosphoric acid, but organic phosphates such as triethyl phosphate may be satisfactory, and so also may crystalline or amorphous aluminophosphates such as the AlPO.sub.4 composition of U.S. Pat. No. 4310440. Organo-phosphorus compounds, such as tetrabutylphosphonium bromide, do not apparently serve as reactive sources of phosphorus, but these compounds may function as templating agents. Conventional phosphorus salts such as sodium metaphosphate, may be used, at least in part, as the phosphorus source, but are not preferred.

The preferred aluminum source is either an aluminum alkoxide, such as aluminum isoproproxide, or pseudoboehmite. The crystalline or amorphous aluminophosphates which are a suitable source of phosphorus are, of course, also suitable sources of aluminum. Other sources of aluminum used in zeolite synthesis, such as gibbsite, sodium aluminate and aluminum trichloride, can be employed but are not preferred.

The reactive source of beryllium can be introduced into the reaction system in any form which permits the formation in situ of a reactive form of beryllium, i.e., reactive to form the framework tetrahedral oxide unit of beryllium. Compounds of beryllium which may be employed include oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, nitrates, sulfates, carboxylates (e.g., acetates) and the like.

While not essential to the synthesis of BeAPO compositions, stirring or other moderate agitation of the reaction mixture and/or seeding the reaction mixture with seed crystals of either the BeAPO species to be produced or a topologically similar aluminophosphate, aluminosilicate or molecular sieve composition, facilitates the crystallization procedure.

After crystallization the BeAPO product may be isolated and advantageously washed with water and dried in air. The as-synthesized BeAPO generally contains within its internal pore system at least one form of the templating agent employed in its formation. Most commonly the organic moiety is present, at least in part, as a charge-balancing cation as is generally the case with as-synthesized aluminosilicate zeolites prepared from organic-containing reaction systems. It is possible, however, that some or all of the organic moiety is an occluded molecular species in a particular BeAPO species. As a general rule the templating agent, and hence the occluded organic species, is too large to move freely through the pore system of the BeAPO product and must be removed by calcining the BeAPO at temperatures of 200.degree. C. to 700.degree. C., preferably about 350.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C., to thermally degrade the organic species. In a few instances the pores of the BeAPO product are sufficiently large to permit transport of the templating agent, particularly if the latter is a small molecule, and accordingly complete or partial removal thereof can be accomplished by conventional desorption procedures such as carried out in the case of zeolites. It will be understood that the term "as-synthesized" as used herein does not include the condition of the BeAPO phase wherein the organic moiety occupying the intracrystalline pore system as a result of the hydrothermal crystalline process has been reduced by post-synthesis treatment such that the value of "m" in the composition formula

has a value of less than 0.02. The other symbols of the formula are as defined hereinabove. In those preparations in which an alkoxide is employed as the source of beryllium, aluminum or phosphorus, the corresponding alcohol is necessarily present in the reaction mixture since it is a hydrolysis product of the alkoxide. It has not been determined whether this alcohol participates in the synthesis process as a templating agent. For the purposes of this application, however, this alcohol is arbitrarily omitted from the class of templating agents, even if it is present in the as synthesized BeAPO material.

Since the present BeAPO compositions are formed from BeO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units which, respectively, have a net charge of -2 -1 and +1 the matter of cation exchangeability is considerably more complicated than in the case of zeolitic molecular sieves in which, ideally, there is a stoichiometric relationship between AlO.sub.2.sup.- tetrahedra and charge-balancing cations. In the instant compositions, an AlO.sub.2.sup.- can be balanced electrically either by association with a PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedron or a simple cation such as an alkali metal cation, a cation of beryllium present in the reaction mixture, or an organic cation derived from the templating agent. Similarly, a BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 tetrahedron can be balanced electrically by association with PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedra, a cation of beryllium present in the reaction mixture, a simple cation such as an alkali metal cation, organic cations derived from the templating agent, or other divalent or polyvalent metal cations introduced from an extraneous source. It has also been postulated that non-adjacent AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral pairs can be balanced by Na.sup.+ and OH.sup.- respectively [Flanigen and Grose, Molecular Sieve Zeolites-I, ACS, Washington, D.C. (1971)].

The BeAPO compositions of the present invention may exhibit cation-exchange capacity when analyzed using ion-exchange techniques heretofore employed with zeolitic aluminosilicates and have pore diameters which are inherent in the lattice structure of each species and which are at least about 3 .ANG. in diameter. Ion exchange of BeAPO compositions is ordinarily possible only after any organic moiety derived from the template, present as a result of synthesis, has been removed from the pore system. Dehydration to remove water present in the as synthesized BeAPO compositions can usually be accomplished, to some degree at least, in the usual manner without removal of the organic moiety, but the absence of the organic species greatly facilitates adsorption and desorption procedures. The BeAPO materials have various degrees of hydrothermal and thermal stability, some being quite remarkable in this regard, and function well as molecular sieve adsorbents and hydrocarbon conversion catalysts or catalyst bases.

In preparing the BeAPO composition it is preferred to use a stainless steel reaction vessel lined with an inert plastic material, e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene, to avoid contamination of the reaction mixture. In general, the final reaction mixture from which each BeAPO composition is crystallized is prepared by forming mixtures of less than all of the reagents and thereafter incorporating into these mixtures additional reagents either singly or in the form of other intermediate mixtures of two or more reagents. In some instances the reagents admixed retain their identity in the intermediate mixture and in other cases some or all of the reagents are involved in chemical reactions to produce new reagents. The term "mixture" is applied in both cases. Further, it ia preferred that the intermediate mixtures as well as the final reaction mixtures be stirred until substantially homogeneous. X-ray patterns of reaction products are obtained by X-ray analysis using either: (1) two computer interfaced Seimen's D-500 X-ray powder diffractometers, available from Seimens Corporation, Cherry Hill, N.J., equipped wit Seimens Type K-805 X-ray sources; or (2) standard X-ray powder diffraction techniques. When the standard technique is employed the radiation source is a high-intensity, copper target, X-ray tube operated at 50 Kv and 40 ma. The diffraction pattern from the copper K-alpha radiation and graphite monochromator is suitably recorded by an X-ray spectrometer scintillation counter, pulse height analyzer and strip chart recorder. X-ray patterns are obtained using flat compressed powder samples which are scanned at 2.degree. (2 theta) per minute, using a two second time constant.

All interplanar spacings (d) in Angstrom units are obtained from the position of the diffraction peaks expressed as 2.theta. where .theta. is the Bragg angle as observed on the strip chart. Intensities are determined from the heights of diffraction peaks after subtracting background, "I.sub.o " being the intensity of the strongest line or peak, and "I" being the intensity of each of the other peaks.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art the determination of the parameter 2 theta is subject to both human and mechanical error, which in combination, can impose an uncertainty of about .+-.0.4.degree. on each reported value of 2 theta. This uncertainty is, of course, also manifested in the reported values of the d-spacings, which are calculated from the 2 theta values. This imprecision is general throughout the art and is not sufficient to preclude the differentiation of the present crystalline materials from each other and from the compositions of the prior art. In some of the X-ray patterns reported, the relative intensities of the d-spacings are indicated by the notations vs, s, m, w and vw which represent very strong, strong, medium, weak and very weak, respectively.

In certain instances the purity of a synthesized product may be assessed with reference to its X-ray powder diffraction pattern. Thus, for example, if a sample is stated to be pure, it is intended only that the X-ray pattern of the sample is free of lines attributable to crystalline impurities, not that there are no amorphous materials present.

The molecular sieves of the instant invention may be characterized by their X-ray powder diffraction patterns and as such may have one of the X-ray patterns set forth in the following Tables A through V, wherein said X-ray patterns are for the as-synthesized form unless otherwise noted. In most cases, the pattern of the corresponding calcined form will also fall within the relevant Table. However, in some cases the removal of the occluded templating agent which occurs during calcination will be accompanied by sufficient relaxation of the lattice to shift some of the lines slightly outside the ranges specified in the relevant Table. In a small number of cases calcination appears to cause more substantial distortions in the crystal lattice, and hence more significant changes in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern.


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