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Molecular Sieve Patent

 

Chromium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieve compositions

Molecular sieve abstract

Molecular sieve compositions having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 ; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, 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 CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of -1 or +1 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, 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 having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of zero, 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K of FIG. 2 said crystalline molecular sieves having a characteristic X-ray powder diffraction pattern which contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of Tables A to H and J to V in claim 1.

3. Molecular sieves according to claim 1 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by points a, b, c and d of FIG. 3.

4. Molecular sieves according to claim 3 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points, n, o, p, q, r and s of FIG. 3.

5. Molecular sieves according to claim 2 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points e, f, g, h and i of FIG. 4.

6. Molecular sieves according to claim 1 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by points j, k, l and m of FIG. 5.

7. Molecular sieves according to claim 1 wherein "m" is not greater than about 0.15.

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

9. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 8 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table A contains at least the d-spacings set forth in the following Table AA:

10. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 8 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table A contains at least the d-spacings set forth in the following Table AB:

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 B given in claim 1.

12. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 11 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table B contains at least the d-spacings set forth in the following Table BA:

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 C given in claim 1.

14. 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.

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 E 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 F given in claim 1.

17. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 16 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table F contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables FA and FB:

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 G given in claim 1.

19. 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.

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 J 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 K given in claim 1.

22. 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.

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 M 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 N 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 O 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 P 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 Q 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 R given in claim 1.

29. The crystalline molecular sieves of claim 28 wherein the X-ray powder diffraction pattern set forth in Table R contains at least the d-spacings set forth in one of the following Tables RA and RB:

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 S given in claim 1.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. Crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of -1 or +1 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, 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.

35. Crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of zero, 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K of FIG. 2.

36. Molecular sieves according to claim 34 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by points a, b, c and d of FIG. 3.

37. Molecular sieves according to claim 36 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the hexagonal compositional area defined by points n, o, p, q, r and s of FIG. 3.

38. Molecular sieves according to claim 35 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points e, f, g, h and i of FIG. 4.

39. Moleculae sieves according to claim 34 wherein the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus present as tetrahedral oxides are within the tetragonal compositional area defined by points j, k, l and m of FIG. 5.

40. Molecular sieves according to claim 34 wherein "m" is not greater than about 0.15.

41. Process for preparing crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of -1 or +1 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, 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 which comprises providing a reation mixture composition at an effective temperature and for an effective time sufficient to produce said 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 an effective amount of "R" greater than zero; "b" has a value of from zero to about 500; and "u", "v" and "w" represent the mole fractions, respectively, of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus in the (Cr.sub.u Al.sub.v P.sub.w)O.sub.2 constituent, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

42. The process of claim 41 wherein "u", "v" and "w" are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points L, M, N, O and P of FIG. 6.

43. The process of claim 41 wherein "a" is not greater than about 0.6.

44. The process of claim 41 wherein "b" is not greater than about 20.

45. Process according to claim 42 wherein the reaction mixture composition comprises from about 0.1 to about 0.4 moles of chromium per mole of phosphorus.

46. Process according to claim 41 wherein the reaction mixture composition comprises from about 0.75 to about 1.25 moles of aluminum per mole of phosphorus.

47. Process according to claim 41 wherein the source of phosphorus in the reaction mixture is orthophosphoric acid.

48. Process according to claim 47 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, aluminum chlorhydrol and aluminum alkoxides.

49. Process according to claim 48 wherein the aluminum alkoxide is aluminum isopropoxide.

50. Process according to claim 41 wherein the source of chromium is selected from the group consisting of oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, nitrates, sulfates, carboxylates and mixtures thereof.

51. Process according to claim 41 wherein the source of chromium is chromium(III) orthophosphate, chromium(III) acetate or chromium acetate hydroxide.

52. Process according to claim 41 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.

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

54. Process according to claim 41 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-dimethylpiperzine; 14-diaziabicyclo-(222)octane; N-methyldiethanolamine; N-methylethanolamine; N-methylpipereidine; 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.

55. Molecular sieve prepared by calcining, at a temperature sufficiently high to remove at some of any organic templating agent pressure in the intracrystalline pore system, a crystalline molecular sieve having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of -1 or +1 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, 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.

56. Process for preparing crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of zero, 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 (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K of FIG. 2 which comprises providing a reaction mixture composition at an effective temperature and for an effective time sufficient to produce said 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 an effective amount of "R" greater than zero; "b" has a value of from zero to about 500; and "u", "v" and "w" represent the mole fractions, respectively, of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus in the (Cr.sub.u Al.sub.v P.sub.w)O.sub.2 constituent, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

57. The process of claim 56 wherein "u", "v" and "w" are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points L, M, N, O and P of FIG. 6.

58. The process of claim 56 wherein "a" is not greater than about 0.6.

59. The process of claim 56 wherein "b" is not greater than about 20.

60. Process according to claim 56 wherein the reaction mixture composition comprises from about 0.1 to about 0.4 moles of chromium per mole of phosphorus.

61. Process according to claim 56 wherein the reaction mixture composition comprises from about 0.75 to about 1.25 moles of aluminum per mole of phosphorus.

62. Process according to claim 56 wherein the source of phosphorus in the reaction mixture is orthophosphoric acid.

63. Process according to claim 61 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, aluminum chlorhydrol and aluminum alkoxides.

64. Process according to claim 63 wherein the aluminum alkoxide is aluminum isopropoxide.

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

66. Process according to claim 56 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.

67. Process according to claim 56 wherein the organic templating agent is an amine.

68. Process according to claim 56 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.

69. Molecular sieve prepared by calcining, at a temperature sufficiently high to remove at some of any organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system, a crystalline molecular sieve having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" has a value of zero, 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 pore mole of (Cr.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said mole fractions being such that they are within the pentagonal compositional area defined by points G, H, I, J and K of FIG. 2.

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 chromium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieves containing framework tetrahedral oxide units of chromium, aluminum and phosphorus. These compositions may be prepared hydrothermally from gels containing reactive compounds of chromium, 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 aluminosilicate 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 fomred 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. No. 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 factions 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 CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ where "n" is -1 0 or +1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to the instant compositions are set forth as mole fractions for when "n" equals -1 or +1 as hereinafter discussed.

FIG. 2 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to the instant compositions are set forth as mole fractions for when "n" equals zero, as hereinafter discussed.

FIG. 3 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to preferred compositions are set forth as mole fractions.

FIG. 4 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to preferred compositions are set forth as mole fractions.

FIG. 5 is a ternary diagram wherein parameters relating to preferred compositions are set forth as mole fractions.

FIG. 6 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 chromium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieves having a crystal framework structure of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units where "n" is -1 0 or +1. 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 CrO.sub.2.sup.n, 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 (Cr.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 chromium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. These molecular sieve compositions comprise crystalline molecular sieves having a three-dimensional microporous framework structure of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units where "n" is -1 0 or +1.

The molecular sieves of the instant invention will be generally referred to by the acronym "CAPO" to designate the framework of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, 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 CAPO class by assigning a number and, accordingly, are identified as "CAPO-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 chromium-aluminum-phosphorus-oxide molecular sieves comprising a crystal framework structure of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units, where "n" is -1 0 or +1. These new molecular sieves exhibit ion-exchange, adsorption and catalytic properties and, accordingly, find wide use as adsorbents and catalysts.

In forming the reaction mixture from which the instant molecular sieves are formed the organic templating agent can be any of those 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 quarternary ammonium compound or other templating compound. Mixtures of two or more templating agents can either produce mixtures of the desired CAPOs 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 CAPO, i.e., a single templating agent can, with proper manipulation of the reaction condition, direct the formation of several CAPO compositions, and a given CAPO 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, aluminum chlorhydrol (Al.sub.2 (OH).sub.5 Cl.2.5H.sub.2 O) 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 chromium can be introduced into the reaction system in any form which permits the formation in situ of a reactive form of chromium, i.e., reactive to form the framework tetrahedral oxide unit of chromium. Compounds of chromium which may be employed include oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, chlorides, bromides, iodides, nitrates, sulfates, carboxylates (e.g., acetates) and the like. Especially preferred sources of chromium are chromium(III) orthophosphate, chromium(III) acetate and chromium acetate hydroxide (Cr.sub.3 (OH).sub.2 (CH.sub.3 COO).sub.7).

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

After crystallization the CAPO product may be isolated and advantageously washed with water and dried in air. The as-synthesized CAPO 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 CAPO 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 CAPO product and must be removed by calcining the CAPO 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 CAPO 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 CAPO 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 chromium, 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 arbitarily omitted from the class of templating agents, even if it is present in the as-synthesized CAPO material.

Since the present CAPO compositions are formed from CrO.sub.2 AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral units which, respectively, have a net charge of "n" (-1 0 or +1), -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.- tetrahedron 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 proton (H.sup.+), a cation of chromium present in the reaction mixture, or an organic cation derived from the templating agent. Similarly, an CrO.sub.2.sup.- tetrahedron can be balanced electrically by association with PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedra, a cation of chromium present in the reaction mixture, organic cations derived from the templating agent, a simple cation such as an alkali metal cation, a proton (H.sup.+), 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, DC (1971)].

The CAPO compositions of the present invention may exhibit cation-exchange capacity when analyzed using ion-exchange techniques heretofore employed with zeolitic aluminosilcates 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 exhange of CAPO 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 CAPO 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 CAPO 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 CAPO 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 CAPO 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 is 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) copper K-alpha radiation, Siemens Type K-805 X-ray sources and computer interfaced Seimen's D-500 X-ray powder diffractometers, available from Seimens Corporation, Cherry Hill, N.J.; 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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