Moisture Sensing Apparatus and Method

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for measuring the moisture content of a fluid system. More particularly, it relates to a moisture sensing element constructed of certain crystalline materials for use in such a method and apparatus.

The detection of the amount of water in a fluid stream is often of importance, e.g., in environmental and process control. Examples of areas where knowledge of the amount of water entrained in a stream are important include, but are not limited to, heating and air conditioning systems, dry gas streams, drying ovens and chemical reactions. Humidity sensors, to be effective, should have high sensitivity and selectivity, temperature insensitivity or compensation, good reversibility, fast response, highly stable response, infrequent need for calibration, and should tolerate corrosive and high temperature environments. The range of moisture levels which need to be detected may range from ppm or lower to 100% relative humidity. Moisture can be present in a fluid stream as water vapor, steam or present in a non-aqueous liquid. The term "fluid system" as used herein is intended to include air and other gases containing water and also liquids containing a small amount of water.

One useful category of instruments which may be employed to sense moisture in fluid systems are the electric hydrometers. As used herein, an electric hydrometer is an instrument for determining the moisture content of a fluid system by measuring or determining the electrical impedance, or related property, of a hydroscopic material as an indication of the humidity or water content of the fluid system. By "electrical impedance" or "impedance" is meant that quantity as classically defined which takes into account at least one, and preferably both, of the electrical resistance and the electrical capacitance of a material or an electrical circuit. In instances where the electrical resistance of a material is very small, the electrical impedance measured is substantially the reciprocal electrical capacitance of the material. Conversely, where the capacitance of the material is very large, the electrical impedance measured is substantially the electrical resistance of the material. The term "electrical impedance" or "impedance" may include only electrical resistance or reciprocal electrical capacitance, provided that such value is a valid indicator of the humidity or water content of the fluid system being analyzed.

Zeolite molecular sieves are crystalline materials with a large and well defined interior volume. Access to this interior volume is controlled by openings, or pores, in the crystal. Molecules in the liquid or gas phase are adsorbed into the zeolite molecular sieves selectively on the basis of their size and polarity, among other things. Zeolite molecular sieves are aluminosilicates which contain charge balancing cations in the pore volume. These cations are mobile and thus render the zeolite molecular sieves ionic conductors.

Zeolite molecular sieves identified as zeolites X, A, Y, T, R, D, L, S, G, chabazite, erionite, faujasite, mordenite and analcite have been disclosed as humidity sensors in U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,225, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. This patent discloses that the mobility of framework cations is a function of polar adsorbates and thus the resistance of a pressed powder compact of such zeolite molecular sieves equipped with electrodes can be monitored as a function of variable humidity levels. This patent also discloses that the lowest possible impedance gives the best results. The impedance of these systems decreases as the number and mobility of the charge balancing cations increases. In general, the zeolites disclosed in this patent have silica to alumina molar ratios of less than 6. Thus, the zeolite sodium X is preferred in this patent.

A new moisture sensing element has been discovered. It has been found that relatively high electrical impedance crystalline materials provide substantial advantages over the low impedance zeolite materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,225. For example, the high impedance crystalline materials useful in the present invention are surprisingly sensitive to small changes in moisture content and exhibit good water adsorption-desorption reversibility. This latter property provides advantageously reduced response times to changes in moisture level. In addition, the presently useful crystalline materials have good high temperature and hydrothermal stability. Further, the present, relatively high impedance systems often exhibit a linear or substantially linear response to temperature changes, thus, making compensating for such changes easier and more reliable. Moreover, the present sensing elements are structurally stable in many corrosive environments.

In one broad aspect, the present invention involves a moisture sensing element comprising an electrically continuous article comprising at least one of certain inorganic crystalline compositions; and two electrodes affixed to the article at different locations in current carrying relationship so that the current between the two electrodes passes through at least a portion of the inorganic crystalline composition. This inorganic crystalline composition is selected from the group consisting of zeolite molecular sieves in which the molar ratio of silica to alumina is greater that 6, silica molecular sieves, non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof. This sensing element may be a component of a hydrometer which further comprises an impedance measuring means connected to the electrodes for measuring the electrical impedance of at least a portion, e.g., a predetermined, controlled portion, of the sensing element.

In another broad aspect, the invention involves a method for measuring the water content of a fluid system. This method comprises immersing in the fluid system an electrically continuous sensing element, as described above. The electrical impedance of at least a portion of the sensing element is measured. This electrical impedance is correlatable to the moisture content in the fluid system. Thus, by knowing the impedance/moisture content relationship, e.g., obtained by prior calibration of the sensing element, one can, by measuring the electrical impedance, determine the water content of the fluid system.

The present invention takes advantage of certain inorganic crystalline compositions which have relatively high electrical impedance. These inorganic crystalline compositions are often referred to as microporous molecular sieves. The presently useful inorganic crystalline compositions include those selected from the group consisting of zeolite molecular sieves in which the molar ratio of silica to alumina is greater than 6, and preferably greater than about 8; silica molecular sieves; non-zeolitic molecular sieves and mixtures thereof. In certain instances, the molecular sieves include one or more organic templating agents, which are often included during synthesis of these materials. These templating agents can be removed, e.g., by combustion. However, it should be noted that both molecular sieves with templating agents and molecular sieves without templating agents may be employed in the present invention.

Any suitable zeolite molecular sieve may be employed in the present invention provided that it has the requisite silica to alumina molar ratio which distinguishes these zeolites from those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,225. Such high impedance zeolite molecular sieves provide for outstanding advantages relative to the lower impedance zeolites disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,225.

Such zeolite molecular sieves may be produced, e.g., using conventional and well known procedures, to initially have the relatively high silica to alumina molar ratio called for in the present invention. Alternately, a synthetic or naturally occurring zeolite molecular sieve may be dealuminized, e.g., using conventional and well known procedures, to produce the high impedance zeolite molecular sieve useful in the present invention.

Preferred zeolite molecular sieves for use in the present invention include LZ-210, ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-20, ZSM-34, LZ-105, Omega and Beta. A particularly useful zeolite molecular sieve is sodium LZ-210, with a silica to alumina molar ratio of 9.0.

Typical of the zeolite molecular sieves which may be used directly or dealuminized and then used in the present invention are the chabazite, faujasite, levynite, Linde Type A, gismondine, erionite, sodalite, Linde Type X and Y, analcime, gmelinite, harmotone, levynite, mordenite, epistilbite, heulandite, stilbite, edingtonite, mesolite, natrolite, scolecite, thomsonite, brewsterite, laumontite, phillipsite, ZSM-5 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,886), ZSM-20 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,983), ZSM-11 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,979), ZSM-12 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,449), ZSM-34 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,086,186), LZ-105 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,805), LZ-210 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,023) Omega and Beta (U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,069 and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 28,341), and the like. Typical of suitable zeolitic molecular sieves employable, directly or indirectly (as noted above) in the practice of this invention are those reviewed by Flanigen in Pure & Applied Chemistry, Vol. 52, pp. 2191-2211, 1980 including their ion exchanged forms. Zeolite ion exchange is reviewed by D. W. Breck in Chapter 7 of his book, "Zeolite Molecular Sieves", Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1974. Also suitable are the zeolitic molecular sieves discovered since these reviews such as LZ-210, LZ-211, LZ-212, etc. all from U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,023, EU-13, U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,211, ISI-6, U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,529, and the like including their ion exchanged forms.

Molecular sieves of the non-zeolitic variety include the silica molecular sieves, such as silicalite (U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,724) silicalite II (D. M. Bibby, et al, Nature, 1979, Vol. 280, pg. 664), and fluoride silicalite (U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,865).

Other molecular sieves of the non-zeolitic variety include these having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

where "Q" represents at least one element present as a framework oxide unit "QO.sub.2.sup.n " with charge "n" where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1; "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 (Q.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value from zero to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of QO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+, SiO.sub.2, respectively, present as framework oxide units. "Q" is characterized as an element having a mean "T--O" distance in tetrahedral oxide structures between about 1.51 Angstroms and about 2.06 Angstroms. "Q" has a cation electronegativity between about 125 kcal/gm-atom to about 310 kcal/gm-atom and "Q" is capable of forming stable Q--O"P, Q--O"Al or Q--O"Q bonds in crystalline three dimensional oxide structures having a "Q--O" bond dissociation energy greater than about 59 kcal/gm-atom at 298.degree. K.; and said mole fractions being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

w is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent;

y is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent;

x is equal to 1 to 99 mole percent; and

z is equal to 0 to 98 mole percent.

The "Q" of the "QAPSO" molecular sieves of formula (I) may be defined as representing at least one element capable of forming a framework tetrahedral oxide and may be one of the elements arsenic, beryllium, boron, chromium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zinc. The invention contemplates combinations of the elements as representing Q, and to the extent such combinations are present in the structure of a QAPSO they may be present in molar fractions of the Q component in the range of 1 to 99 percent thereof. It should be noted that formula (I) contemplates the non-existence of Q and Si. In such case, the operative structure is that of AlPO.sub.4 as discussed below. Where z has a positive value, then the operative structure is that of SAPO, discussed below. Thus, the term QAPSO does not perforce represent that the elements Q and S (actually Si) are present. When Q is a multiplicity of elements, then to the extent the elements present are as herein contemplated, the operative structure is that of the ELAPSO or ELAPO or MeAPO or MeAPSO molecular sieves, as herein discussed. However, in the contemplation that molecular sieves of the QAPSO variety will be invented in which Q will be another element or elements, then it is the intention to embrace the same as a suitable molecular sieve for the practice of this invention.

Illustrations of QAPSO compositions and structures are the various non-zeolitic compositions and structures described hereinbelow.

The term "non-zeolitic molecular sieves" or "NZMS" is defined in the instant invention to include the "SAPO" molecular sieves of U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871 and U.S. Ser. No. 575,745, filed Jan. 31, 1984, "ELAPSO" molecular sieves as disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 600,312, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and certain "AlPO.sub.4 ", "MeAPO", "FeAPO", "TAPO" and "ELAPO" molecular sieves, as hereinafter described. Crystalline "AlPO.sub.4 " aluminophosphates are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,440 issued Jan. 12, 1982, and in U.S. Ser. No. 880,559, filed June 30, 1986; crystalline metal aluminophosphates (MeAPO where "Me" is at least one of Mg, Mn, Co and Zn) are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,029, issued Jan. 28, 1986; crystalline ferroaluminophosphates (FeAPO) are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,143, issued Nov. 19, 1985; titanium aluminophosphates (TAPO) are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,651, issued Feb. 19, 1985; certain non-zeolitic molecular sieves ("ELAPO") are disclosed in EPC Patent Application Nos. 85104386.9 (Publication No. 0158976, published Oct. 13, 1985) and 85104388.5 (Publication No. 158349, published Oct. 16, 1985); and ELAPSO molecular sieves are disclosed in copending U.S. Ser. No. 600,312, filed Apr. 13, 1984 (EPC Publication No. 0159624, published Oct. 30, 1985). The aforementioned applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference thereto. The nomenclature employed herein to refer to the members of the aforementioned NZMS is consistent with that employed in the aforementioned applications or patents. A particular member of a class is generally referred to as a "-n" species wherein "n" is an integer, e.g., SAPO-11, MeAPO-11 and ELAPSO-31. In the following discussion on NZMS set forth hereinafter the more fraction of the NZMS are defined as compositional values which are plotted in phase diagrams in each of the identified patents, published applications or copending applications.

"ELAPSO" molecular sieves are described in copending U.S. Ser. No. 600,312, filed Apr. 13, 1984, (EPC Publication No. 0159,624, published Oct. 30, 1985, incorporated herein by reference) as crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of ELO.sub.2, AlO.sub.2, PO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2 oxide 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 molar amount of "R" present per mole of (EL.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; "EL" represents at least one element capable of forming a three dimensional oxide framework, "EL" being characterized as an element having a mean "T--O" distance in tetrahedral oxide structures between about 1.51 Angstroms and about 2.06 Angstroms, "EL" having a cation electronegativity between about 125 Kcal/g-atom to about 310 Kcal/gm-atom and "EL" being capable of forming stable M--O"P, M--O"Al or M--O"M bonds in crystalline three dimensional oxide structures having a "M--O" bond dissociation energy greater than about 59 kcal/g-atom at 298.degree. K.; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "EL", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as framework oxides, said mole fractions being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

where "p" is an integer corresponding to the number of elements "El" in the (El.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 constituent.

"ELAPSO" molecular sieves are described in copending U.S. Ser. No. 600,312, filed Apr. 13, 1984, (EPC Publication No. 0159,624, published Oct. 30, 1985, incorporated herein by reference) as crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of ELO.sub.2, AlO.sub.2, PO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2 oxide 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 molar amount of "R" present per mole of (EL.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; "EL" represents at least one element capable of forming a three dimensional oxide framework, "EL" being characterized as an element having a mean "T--O" distance in tetrahedral oxide structures between about 1.51 Angstroms and about 2.06 Angstroms, "EL" having a cation electronegativity between about 125 Kcal/g-atom to about 310 Kcal/gm-atom and "EL" being capable of forming stable M--O"P, M--O"Al or M--O"M bonds in crystalline three dimensional oxide structures having a "M--O" bond dissociation energy greater than about 59 kcal/g-atom at 298.degree. K.; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "EL", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as framework oxides, said mole fractions being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

where "p" is an integer corresponding to the number of elements "El" in the (El.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 constituent.

The "ELAPSO" molecular sieves are also described as crystalline molecular sieves having three-dimensional microporous framework structures of ELO.sub.2, AlO.sub.2, SiO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedral oxide 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 molar amount of "R" present per mole of (EL.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; "EL" represents at least one element capable of forming a framework tetrahedral oxide and is selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, chromium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium and zinc; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "EL", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, said fractions being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

where "p" is as above defined.

The "ELAPSO" molecular sieves include numerous species which are intended herein to be within the scope of the term "non-zeolitic molecular sieves" such being disclosed in the following copending and commonly assigned applications, incorporated herein by reference thereto:

The disclosures of the patents listed in the foregoing table are herein incorporated by reference.

As already mentioned, the TiAPSO molecular sieves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,617 (incorporated herein by reference); these TiAPSO molecular sieves are also described in U.S. Ser. No. 049,274, filed May 13, 1987.

The MgAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,180, filed Apr. 13, 1984 have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of MgO.sub.2.sup.-2, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral oxide 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 (Mg.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value from zero (0) to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides and each preferably has a value of at least 0.01. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the MgAPSO molecular sieves the values "w", "x", "y" and "z" in the above formula are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

MgAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization for an effective time at effective pressures and temperatures from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of magnesium, silicon, aluminum and phosphorus, an organic templating, i.e., structure-directing, agent, preferably a compound of an element of Group VA of the Periodic Table, and may be 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. C. and 250.degree. C., and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. until crystals of the MgAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Generally, the crystallization period will be from about 2 hours to about 30 days with it typically being from about 4 hours to about 20 days for obtaining MgAPSO crystals. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the MgAPSO compositions, it is preferred to employ reaction mixture compositions 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 can have a value within the range of from zero (0) to about 6 and is more preferably an effective amount greater than zero to about 6; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxides are prepared as follows:

MgAPSO compositions are prepared using numerous reagents. Typical reagents which may be employed to prepare MgAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: Trademark of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) Mg(Ac).sub.2 magnesium acetate tetrahydrate, Mg(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O;

(e) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid in water;

(f) TBAOH: tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (40 wt. in water);

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine;

(h) Pr.sub.3 NH: tri-n-propylamine;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine;

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (17.9%) in water);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TEAOH: tetraethylammonium hydroxide (40 wt. % in water);

(m) DEEA: Diethylethanolamine;

(n) i-Pr.sub.2 NH: di-isopropylamine;

(o) TEABr: tetraethylammonium bromide; and

(p) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (40 wt. % in water).

The MgAPSO compositions may be prepared by preparing reaction mixtures having a molar composition expressed as:

wherein e, f, g, h, i and j represent the moles of template R, magnesium (expressed as the oxide), SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, P.sub.2 O.sub.5 (H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 expressed as P.sub.2 O.sub.5) and H.sub.2 O, respectively.

The reaction mixtures may be prepared by the following representative procedures, designated hereinafter as Methods A, B and C.

The reaction mixture is prepared by mixing the ground aluminum source (alipro or CATAPAL) with the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and water on a gradual basis with occasional cooling with an ice bath. The resulting mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. When the aluminum source is CATAPAL the water and H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 are first mixed with the CATAPAL added thereto. The magnesium acetate is dissolved in a portion of the water and is then added followed by addition of the LUDOX-LS. The combined mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The organic templating agent is added to this mixture and blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The resulting mixture (final reaction mixture) is placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for an effective time. Alternatively, if the digestion temperature is 100.degree. C. the final reaction mixture is placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) screw top bottle for a time. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure. The products are removed from the reaction vessel, cooled and evaluated as set forth hereinafter.

When method B is employed the organic templating agent is di-n-propylamine. The aluminum source, silicon source and one-half of the water are first mixed and blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. A second solution was prepared by mixing the remaining water, the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and the magnesium acetate. This solution is then added to the above mixture. The magnesium acetate and H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 solution is then added to the above mixture and blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The organic templating agent(s) is/are then added and the resulting reaction mixture digested and product recovered as in Method A.

Method C is carried out by mixing aluminum isopropoxide, LUDOX LS and water in a blender or by mixing water and aluminum iso-propoxide in a blender followed by addition of the LUDOX LS. H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and magnesium acetate are then added to the resulting mixture. The organic templating agent is then added to the resulting mixture and digested and product recovered as in Method A.

As already mentioned, the MnAPSO molecular sieves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,686,092 issued Aug. 11, 1987 (incorporated herein by reference).

The CAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,174, filed Apr. 13, 1984 have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CoO.sub.2.sup.-2, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 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 (Co.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of cobalt, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides, where the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are each at least 0.01 and are generally defined, as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the CoAPSO molecular sieves the values of "w", "x", "y" and "z" in the above formula are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

CoAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of cobalt, silicon, aluminum and phosphorus, an organic templating, i.e., structure-directing, agent, preferably a compound of an element of Group VA of the Periodic Table, and optionally an alkali 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 an effective temperature which is generally between 50.degree. C. and 250.degree. C. and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. until crystals of the CoAPSO product are obtained, usually for an effective time of from several hours to several weeks. Generally the effective crystallization time will be from about 2 hours to about 30 days and typically from about 4 hours to about 20 days. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the CoAPSO, 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; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and 300; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of cobalt, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01. In a preferred embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing cobalt, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

CoAPSO compositions may be prepared using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare CoAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: Trademark of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) Co(Ac).sub.2 : cobalt acetate, Co(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O;

(e) CoSO.sub.4 : cobalt sulfate, (CoSO.sub.4 "7H.sub.2 O);

(f) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent phosphoric acid in water;

(g) TBAOH: tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (25 wt % in methanol);

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH):

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TEAOH: tetraethylammonium hydroxide (40 wt. % in water);

(n) DEEA: diethanolamine;

(o) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (40 wt. % in water); and

(p) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide (40 wt. % in water).

CoAPSO compositions may be prepared by preparing reaction mixtures having a molar composition expressed as:

wherein e, f, h, i, g and j represent the moles of template R, cobalt (expressed as the oxide), Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, P.sub.2 O.sub.5 (H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 expressed as P.sub.2 O.sub.5), SiO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O, respectively.

The reaction mixtures are prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture comprising the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and one half of the water. This mixture is stirred and the aluminum source (Alipro or CATAPAL) added. The resulting mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The LUDOX-LS is then added to the resulting mixture and the new mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The cobalt source (e.g., Co(Ac).sub.2, Co(SO.sub.4) or mixtures thereof) is dissolved in the remaining water and combined with the first mixture. The combined mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The organic templating agent is added to this mixture and blended for about two to four minutes until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The resulting mixture (final reaction mixture) is placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C., 200.degree. C. or 225.degree. C.) for a time. Digestions are typically carried out at the autogenous pressure. The products are removed from the reaction vessel and cooled.

The ZnAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,170, filed Apr. 13, 1984 comprise framework structures of ZnO.sub.2.sup.-2, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.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 (Zn.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of zinc, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides and each has a value of at least 0.01. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of ZnAPSO molecular sieves the values "w", "x", "y" and "z" in the above formula are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

ZnAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization at effective process conditions from a reaction mixture containing active sources of zinc, silicon, aluminum and phosphorus, preferably an organic templating, i.e., structure-directing, agent, preferably a compound of an element or 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. C. and 50.degree. C., and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. until crystals of the ZnAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Generally the effective crystallization period is from about 2 hours to about 30 days with typical periods of from about 4 hours to about 20 days being employed to obtain ZnAPSO products. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the ZnAPSO compositions, 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; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, more preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of zinc, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01. In a preferred embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing zinc, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

ZnAPSO compositions are typically prepared using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare ZnAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the trade name of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(c) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) ZnAc: Zinc Acetate, Zn(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) TMAOH: Tetramethylammonium hydroxide pentahydrate, (CH.sub.3).sub.4 NOH"5H.sub.2 O;

(i) TPAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrapropylammonium hydroxide, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.4 NOH;

(j) Pr.sub.2 NH: Di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(k) Pr.sub.3 N: Tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(l) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(m) C-hex: cyclohexylamine; and

(n) DEEA: diethylethanolamine, (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 NC.sub.2 H.sub.5 OH.

ZnAPSO compositions are typically prepared by forming reaction mixtures having a molar composition expressed as:

wherein e, f, g, h, i and j represent the moles of template R, zinc (expressed as the oxide), Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, P.sub.2 O.sub.5 (H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 expressed as P.sub.2 O.sub.5), SiO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O, respectively.

The reaction mixtures are generally prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture comprising the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and a portion of the water. This mixture is stirred and the aluminum source added. The resulting mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The LUDOX LS is then added to the resulting mixture and the new mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The zinc source (zinc acetate) is dissolved in the remaining water and combined with the first mixture. The combined mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The organic templating agent is added to this mixture and blended for about two to four minutes until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The resulting mixture (final reaction mixture) is placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at an effective temperature for an effective time. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure. The products are removed from the reaction vessel and cooled.

As already mentioned, the FeAPSO molecular sieves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,217 (incorporated herein by reference).

The QuinAPSO quinary molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. Nos. 600,168 and 600,181, both filed Apr. 13, 1984, have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of MO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral units, where "n" is -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1, 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 (M.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero (0) to about 0.3; M represents a least two elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, chromium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zinc; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of M, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. Preferably, M represents the combination of cobalt and manganese. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y", and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

QuinAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of the elements M, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon and preferably an organic templating agent, i.e., structure-directing, agent. The structure-directing agents are preferably a compound of an element of Group VA of the Periodic Table, and may be 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 polytetrafluoreothylene and heated, preferably under autogenous pressure and at typical effective temperatures between 50.degree. C. and 250.degree. C., preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C., until crystals of the QuinAPSO product are obtained, usually over a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective crystallization times are from about 2 hours to 30 days with from about 4 hours to about 20 days being generally employed to obtain QuinAPSO products. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the QuinAPSO compositions, 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; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of elements M, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. QuinAPSO compositions were prepared using numerous reagents; the appropriate sources of the various elements M are the same as those used in the preparation of the various APO and APSO molecular sieves containing the same elements, as described in detail above and below.

Reagents which may be employed to prepare QuinAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent of Na.sub.2 O;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent phosphoric acid;

(d) MnAc: Manganese acetate, Mn(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O (for QuinAPSOs containing manganese);

(e) CoAc: Cobalt Acetate, Co(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O (for QuinAPSOs containing cobalt);

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide; and

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH.

QuinAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by adding H and one half of the quantity of water. To this mixture an aluminum isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture a silica (e.g., LUDOX-LS) is added and the resulting mixture blended (about 2 minutes) until a homogeneous mixture is observed. A second mixture is prepared using manganese acetate (or a appropriate source of another element M) and one half of the remaining water. A third mixture is prepared using cobalt acetate (or a appropriate source of another element M) and one half of the remaining water. The three mixtures are admixed and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The organic templating agent is then added to the resulting mixture and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed, i.e., about 2 to 4 minutes. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at an effective temperature for an effective time. Digestions are typically carried out under autogeneous pressure.

The CoMnMgAPSO senary molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,182, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and of U.S. Ser. No. 057,648 filed June 9, 1987, have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of CoO.sub.2.sup.-2, MnO.sub.2.sup.-2, MgO.sub.2.sup.-2, AlO.sub.2, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 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 (Co.sub.t Mn.sub.u Mg.sub.v Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of from zero (0) to about 0.3; "t", "u", "v", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of cobalt, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides and each has a value of at least 0.01. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z", where "w" is the sum of "t"+"u"+"v", are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the CoMnMgAPSO molecular sieves the values of "w", "x", "y" and "z" in the above formula are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

CoMnMgAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of cobalt, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, and preferably an organic templating agent, i.e., structure-directing agent. The structure-directing agents are 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. C. and 250.degree. C., and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C., until crystals of the CoMnMgAPSO product are obtained, usually over 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 20 days generally being employed to obtain CoMnMgAPSO products. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the CoMnMgAPSO compositions, 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 more preferably from greater than zero to about 2; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "t", "u", "v", "x", "y", and "z" represent the mole fractions of cobalt, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In a preferred embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z", where "w" is the sum of "t"+"u"+"v", are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "t", "u", "v", "x", "y" and "z" such that (t+u+v+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing cobalt, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

CoMnMgAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare CoMnMgAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(c) H aqueous solution which is 85 weight percent phosphoric acid;

(d) MnAc: Manganese acetate, Mn(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O;

(e) CoAc: Cobalt Acetate, Co(C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2 "4H.sub.2 O;

(f) MgAc: Magnesium Acetate Mg(C.sub.2 H "4H.sub.2 O;

(g) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide; and

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH.

CoMnMgAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by adding H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and one half of the quantity of water. To this mixture an aluminum isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture a silica (e.g., LUDOX-LS) is added and the resulting mixture blended (about 2 minutes) until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Three additional mixtures are prepared using cobalt acetate, magnesium acetate and manganese acetate using one third of the remainder of the water for each mixture. The four mixtures are then admixed and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. An organic templating agent is then added to the resulting mixture and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed, i.e., about 2 to 4 minutes. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature for a time. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The SenAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,183, filed Apr. 13, 1984 have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of MO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral oxide units, where "n" is -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1, 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 (M.sub.w .sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2, and has a value of from zero to about 0.3; "M" represents three elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, chromium, cobalt, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zinc; "n" may have the aforementioned values depending upon the oxidation state of "M"; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of elements "M", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows, wherein "w" denotes the combined mole fractions of the three elements "M" such that "w"="w.sub.1 "+"w.sub.2 "+"w.sub.3 " and each element "M" has a mole fraction of at least 0.01:

In a preferred subclass of the SenAPSO molecular sieves the values of "w", "x", "y" and "z" in the above formula are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

SenAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of elements "M", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, and preferably an organic templating, i.e., structure-directing, agent. The structure-directing agents are 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. C. and 250.degree. C., and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C., until crystals of the SenAPSO product are obtained, usually over 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 20 days generally being employed to obtain SenAPSO products. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the SenAPSO compositions, 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 more preferably from greater than zero to about 2; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "w", "x", "y", and "z" represent the mole fractions of elements "M", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01, with the proviso that each "M" is present in a mole fraction of at least 0.01.

In a preferred embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. The SenAPSO molecular sieves are prepared by preparative techniques, and using sources of the elements "M" similar to those described for the other APSO molecular sieves described above and below.

The AsAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,808, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 845,484 filed Mar. 31, 1986 have a framework structure of AsO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.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 (As.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements arsenic, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the AsAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the AsAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

AsAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of arsenic, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the AsAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 12 hours to about 10 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the AsAPSO compositions, 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 1.0; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 60; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of arsenic, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from about 1 to about. 2 total moles of silicon and arsenic, and from about 1 to about 2 moles of aluminum, per mole of phosphorus.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing arsenic, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

AsAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare AsAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) As.sub.2 O.sub.5, arsenic (V) oxide;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate.

AsAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by dissolving the arsenic (V) oxide and the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 in at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum isopropoxide or CATAPAL is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the templating agent and then the silica is added and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The BAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,177, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 845,255 filed Mar. 28, 1986 have a framework structure of BO.sub.2.sup.-, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.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 (B.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but it preferably not greater than 0.15; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements boron, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the BAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the BAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

BAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of boron, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the BAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 20 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the BAPSO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of boron, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from about 1.0 to about 2 total moles of silicon and boron, and from about 0.75 to about 1.25 moles of aluminum, per mole of phosphorus.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing boron, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

BAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare BAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) H.sub.3 BO.sub.3, boric acid, and trialkyl borates;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate.

BAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by dissolving aluminum isopropoxide in an alcohol such as isopropanol, adding the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 and recovering the solid which precipitates. This solid is then added to water, and trialkylborate (for example trimethyl borate) added, followed by silica and the templating agent. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The BeAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,176, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 841,752 filed Mar. 20, 1986 have a framework structure of BeO.sub.2.sup.-2, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.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.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements beryllium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the BeAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

BeAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of beryllium, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., until crystals of the BeAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from 1 about 4 hours to about 20 days, have been observed, with from 1 to 10 days being preferred. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the BeAPSO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 to about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing beryllium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

BeAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare BeAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) beryllium sulfate, BeSO.sub.4 ;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate.

BeAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting solution by mixing H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 in at least part of the water. To this solution is added beryllium sulfate (or another beryllium salt) and the resultant mixture stirred until a homogeneous solution is obtained. To this solution may be added successively the aluminum oxide, the silica and the templating agent, with the mixture being stirred between each addition until it is homogeneous. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The CAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,830, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 852,174 filed Apr. 15, 1986 have a framework structure of CrO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral units (where "n" is -1, 0 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.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements chromium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the CAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the CAPSO molecular sieves, the values of x and y in the above formula are each within the range of about 0.4 to 0.5 and (z+w) is in the range of about 0.02 to 0.15.

Since the exact nature of the CAPSO molecular sieves is not clearly understood at present, although all are believed to contain CrO.sub.2 tetrahedra in the three-dimensional microporous crystal framework structure, it is advantageous to characterize the CAPSO molecular sieves by means of their chemical composition. This is due to the low level of chromium present in certain of the CAPSO molecular sieves prepared to date which makes it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the interaction between chromium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon. As a result, although it is believed that CrO.sub.2 tetrahedra are substituted isomorphously for AlO.sub.2, PO.sub.2 or SiO.sub.2 tetrahedra, it is appropriate to characterize certain CAPSO compositions by reference to their chemical composition in terms of the mole ratios of oxides.

CAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of chromium, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., until crystals of the CAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 1 to about 10 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the CAPSO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from about 0.3 to about 0.5 total moles of silicon and chromium, and from about 0.75 to about 1.25 moles of aluminum, per mole of phosphorus.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w +x +y +z) =1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing chromium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

CAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare CAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) chromium acetate, and chromium acetate hydroxide;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate.

CAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting solution by dissolving H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 in at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the silica, the chromium acetate or chromium acetate hydroxide and the templating agent are successively added and at each step the resulting mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Alternatively, the water and aluminum isopropoxide may first be mixed, and then the silica, the chromium acetate or chromium acetate hydroxide, the phosphoric acid and the templating agent added, and again at each step the resulting mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

In either case, the mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The GaAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,925, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 845,985 filed Mar. 31, 1986 have a framework structure of GaO.sub.2.sup.-, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.sub.2 tetrahedral units having an empirical chemical composition on an anhydrous basis expressed by the formula:

wherein "R" represents at leas one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (Ga.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.2; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements gallium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the GaAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the GaAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

GaAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of gallium, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., until crystals of the GaAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 2 to about 15 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the GaAPSO compositions, 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 1.0; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of gallium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from about 0.5 to about 1.0 total moles of silicon and gallium, and from about 0.75 about 1.25 moles of aluminum, per mole of phosphorus.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing gallium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

GaAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare GaAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) gallium hydroxide, or gallium sulfate;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate.

GaAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting solution by dissolving H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 in at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum hydroxide or isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture is added a second solution prepared by adding silica to a solution containing the gallium hydroxide and the templating agent and then the combined mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Alternatively, the templating agent may be added to the solution containing the phosphoric acid and water, and a solution of gallium sulfate in water added, followed by successive additions of silica and aluminum oxide and then the combined mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

In either case, the mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The GeAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,971, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 852,175 filed Apr. 15, 1986 have a framework structure of GeO.sub.2, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.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 (Ge.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements geranium, aluminum, phosphorous and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limited compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the GeAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the GeAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

GeAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of geranium, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., until crystals of the GeAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 12 hours to about 7 days have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the GaAPSO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and desirably not greater than about 10; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of germanium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from about 0.2 to about 0.3 total moles of silicon and germanium, and from about 0.75 about 1.25 moles of aluminum, per mole of phosphorus.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing germanium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

GeAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare GeAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(e) germanium tetrachloride or germanium ethoxide;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate; and

(q) aluminum chlorhydrol.

In some cases, it may be advantageous, when synthesizing the GeAPSO compositions, to first combine sources of germanium and aluminum, or of germanium, aluminum and silicon, to form a mixed germanium/aluminum or germanium/aluminum/silicon compound (this compound being typically a mixed oxide) and thereafter to combine this mixed compound with a source of phosphorus to form the final GeAPSO composition. Such mixed oxides may be prepared for example by hydrolyzing aqueous solutions containing germanium tetrachloride and aluminum chlorhydrol, or germanium ethoxide, tetraethylorthosilicate, and aluminum tri-sec-butoxide.

GeAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting solution by dissolving H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 in at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum isopropoxide or CATAPAL is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture is the templating agent and then a solution containing tetraethylorthosilicate and germanium ethoxide, and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Alternatively, the phosphoric acid may first be mixed with the templating agent, and then a solution containing tetraethylorthosilicate and germanium ethoxide combined with the phosphoric acid/templating agent solution. Then the aluminum oxide is added and the resultant mixture blended until homogeneous.

In a third procedure, the phosphoric acid may first be mixed with the templating agent and water, and to the resultant solution is added the solid aluminum/silicon/germanium mixed oxide prepared as described above. The resultant mixture is then blended until homogeneous.

Whichever procedure is adopted, the final mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoro-ethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The LiAPSO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,952, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 847,227 filed Apr. 2, 1986 have a framework structure of LiO.sub.2.sup.-3, AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and SiO.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 (Li.sub.w Al.sub.x P.sub.y Si.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements lithium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the LiAPSO molecular sieves, the values of w, x, y and z are as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the LiAPSO molecular sieves, the value of w+z is not greater than about 0.20.

Since the exact nature of the LiAPSO molecular sieves is not clearly understood at present, although all are believed to contain LiO.sub.2 tetrahedra in the three-dimensional microporous crystal framework structure, it is advantageous to characterize the LiAPSO molecular sieves by means of their chemical composition. This is due to the low level of lithium present in certain of the LiAPSO molecular sieves prepared to date which makes it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the interaction between lithium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon. As a result, although it is believed that LiO.sub.2 tetrahedra are substituted isomorphously for AlO.sub.2, PO.sub.2 or SiO.sub.2 tetrahedra, it is appropriate to characterize certain LiAPSO compositions by reference to their chemical composition in terms of the mole ratios of oxides.

LiAPSO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of lithium, silicon, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the LiAPSO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 1 to about 10 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the LiAPSO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20, and most desirably not greater than about 10; and "w", "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of lithium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "w", "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y" and "z" such that (w+x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing lithium, aluminum, phosphorus and silicon as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

LiAPSO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare LiAPSOs include:

(a) Alipro: aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) CATAPAL: Trademark of Condea Corporation for hydrated pseudoboehmite;

(c) LUDOX-LS: LUDOX-LS is the tradename of DuPont for an aqueous solution of 30 weight percent SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 weight percent Na.sub.2 O;

(d) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 :85 weight percent aqueous-phosphoric acid;

(e) lithium orthophosphate;

(f) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(g) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(h) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(i) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(j) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(k) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(l) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(m) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(n) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(o) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol;

(p) Tetraalkylorthosilicates, such as tetraethylorthosilicate.

LiAPSOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture mixing lithium phosphate and aluminum oxide, then adding the resultant mixture to the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4. To the resultant mixture is added silica and the templating agent and the resulting mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested it a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

As already mentioned, the AlPO.sub.4 aluminophosphate molecular sieves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,440 (incorporated herein by reference): these AlPO.sub.4 molecular sieves are also described in U.S. Ser. No. 880.559. filed June 30, 1986.

MeAPO molecular sieves are crystalline microporous aluminophosphates in which the substituent metal is one of a mixture of two or more divalent metals of the group magnesium, manganese, zinc and cobalt and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,029 (incorporated herein by reference).

As already mentioned, ferroaluminphosphates (FAPO's) are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,143 (incorporated herein by reference).

As already mentioned, TAPO molecular sieves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,561 (incorporated herein by reference).

"ELAPO" molecular sieves are a class of crystalline molecular sieves in which at least one element capable of forming a three-dimensional microporous framework forms crystal framework structures of AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and MO.sub.2.sup.n tetrahedral oxide units wherein "MO.sub.2.sup.n " represents at least one different element (other than Al or P) present as tetrahedral oxide units "MO.sub.2.sup.n " with charge "n" where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1. The members of this novel class of molecular sieve compositions have crystal framework structures of AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and MO.sub.2.sup.n 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 (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 ; "M" represents at least one element capable of forming framework tetrahedral oxides; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fraction of "M", aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. "M" is at least one different (i.e., not aluminum, phosphorus or oxygen) element such that the molecular sieves contain at least one framework tetrahedral unit in addition to AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+. "M" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, cobalt, chromium, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium and zinc, subject to certain restrictions on the combinations of elements as will appear from the discussions of individual groups of ELAPOs below. ELAPOs and their preparation are disclosed in European Patent Application Serial No. 85104386.9, filed Apr. 11, 1985 (EPC Publication No. 0158976, published Oct. 13, 1985, incorporated herein by reference) and 85104388.5, filed Apr. 11, 1985 (EPC Publication No. 158349, published Oct. 16, 1985, incorporated herein by reference).

The "ELAPO" molecular sieves further include numerous species which are intended herein to be within the scope of the term "non-zeolitic molecular sieves" such being disclosed in the following copending and commonly assigned applications, incorporated herein by reference thereto [(A) following a serial number indicates that the application is abandoned, while (CIP) following a serial number indicates that the application is a continuation-in-part of the immediately preceding application, and (C) indicates that the application is a continuation of the immediately preceding application]:

The disclosure of the patent listed in the foregoing table is incorporated herein by reference.

The ELAPO molecular sieves are generally referred to herein by the acronym "ELAPO" to designate element(s) "M" in a framework of AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+ and MO.sub.2.sup.n tetrahedral oxide units. Actual class members will be identified by replacing the "EL" of the acronym with the elements present as MO.sub.2.sup.n tetrahedral units. For example, "MgBeAPO" designates a molecular sieve comprised of AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+, MgO.sub.2.sup.-2 and BeO.sub.2.sup.-2 tetrahedral units. To identify various structural species which make up each of the subgeneric classes, each species is assigned a number and is identified as "ELAPO-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 similar identification system.

The ELAPO molecular sieves comprise at least one additional element capable of forming framework tetrahedral oxide units (MO.sub.2.sup.2) to form crystal framework structures with AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units wherein "M" represents at least one element capable of forming tetrahedral units MO.sub.2.sup.n " where "n" is -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1 and is at least one element selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, cobalt, chromium, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium and zinc.

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

wherein "R" represents at leas one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; "M" represents at leas one element capable of forming framework tetrahedral oxides where "M" is at least one element selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, cobalt, chromium, gallium, germanium, iron, lithium, magnesium, manganese, titanium and zinc.

The relative amounts of element(s) "M", aluminum and phosphorous are expressed by the empirical chemical formula (anhydrous):

where "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of said "M" aluminum and phosphorous. The individual mole fractions of each "M" (or when M denotes two or more elements, M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3, etc.) may be represented by "x.sub.1 ", "x.sub.2 ", "x.sub.3 ", etc. wherein "x.sub.1 ", "x.sub.2 ", and "x.sub.3 " etc. represent the individual mole fractions of elements M.sub.1, M.sub.2, M.sub.3, and etc. for "M" as above defined. The values of "x.sub.1 ", "x.sub.2 ", "x.sub.3 ", etc. are as defined for "x", hereinafter, where "x.sub.1 "+"x.sub.2 "+"x.sub.3 " . . . ="x" and where x.sub.1, x.sub.2, x.sub.3, etc. are each at least 0.01.

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

wherein "R" represents at leas one organic templating agent present in the intracrystalline pore system; "m" represents a molar amount of "R" present per mole of (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3; "M" represents at least one different element (other than Al or P) capable of forming framework tetrahedral oxides, as hereinbefore defined, and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M", aluminum and phosphorous, respectively present as tetrahedral oxides; in general, said mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are within the following values for "x", "y" and "z", although as will appear hereinbelow, the limits for "x", "y" and "z" may vary slightly with the nature of the element "M":

Also, in general, in a preferred sub-class of the ELAPOs of this invention, the values of "x", "y" and "z" in the formula above are within the following values for "x", "y" and "z", although again the relevent limits may vary somewhat with the nature of the element "M", as set forth hereinbelow:

ELAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of the elements "M", aluminum and phosphorous, 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. C. and 250.degree. C., and preferably between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C., until crystals of the ELAPO 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 2 hours to about 20 days being generally employed to obtain crystals of the ELAPO products. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

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

wherein "R" is an organic template 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; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and 300; "M" represents at least one element, as above described, capable of forming tetrahedral oxide framework units, MO.sub.2.sup.n, with AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units; "n" has a value of -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M", aluminum and phosphorous, respectively; "y" and "z" each have a value of at least 0.01 and "x" has a value of at least 0.01 with each element "M" having a mole fraction of at least 0.01. In general, the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are preferably within the following values for "x", "y" and "z":

Further guidance concerning the preferred reaction mixtures for forming ELAPOs with various elements "M" will be given below.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to a total of (M+Al+P)=(x+y+z)=1.00 mole, whereas in other cases the reaction mixtures are expressed in terms of molar oxide ratios and may be normalized to 1.00 mole of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and/or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. This latter form is readily converted to the former form by routine calculations by dividing the total number of moles of "M", aluminum and phosphorous into the moles of each of "M", aluminum and phosphorous. The moles of template and water are similarly normalized by dividing by the total moles of "M", aluminum and phosphorous.

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, phosphorous, arsenic and antimony, preferably nitrogen or phosphorous 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 compounds and quaternary ammonium compounds, the latter two being represented generally by the formula R.sub.4 X.sup.+ wherein "X" is nitrogen or phosphorous 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 ELAPOs 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; 1,4-diazabicyclo (2,2,2,) octane; N-methyldiethanolamine; N-methylethanolamine; N-methylpiperidine; 3-methylpiperidine; n-methylcyclohexylamine; 3-methylpyridine; 4-methylpyridine; quinuclidine; N,N'-dimethyl-1,4-diazabicyclo (2,2,2) 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 ELAPO, i.e., a single templating agent can, with proper manipulation of the reaction conditions, direct the formation of several ELAPO compositions, and a given ELAPO composition can be produced using several different templating agents. The phosphorous 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. 4,310,440. Organophosphorous compounds, such as tetrabutylphosphonium bromide, do not apparently serve as reactive sources of phosphorous, but these compounds may function as templating agents. Conventional phosphorous salts such as sodium metaphosphate, may be used, at least in part, as the phosphorous source, but are not preferred.

The aluminum source is preferably either an aluminum alkoxide, such as aluminum isopropoxide, or pseudoboehmite. The crystalline or amorphous aluminophosphates which are a suitable source of phosphorous 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 element(s) "M" can be introduced into the reaction system in any form which permits the formation in situ of reactive form of the element, i.e., reactive to form the framework tetrahedral oxide unit of the element. The organic and inorganic salts, of "M" such as oxides, alkoxides, hydroxides, halides and carboxyates, may be employed including the chlorides, bromides, iodides, nitrates, sulfates, phosphates, acetates, formates, and alkoxides, including ethoxides, propoxides and the like. Specific preferred reagents for introducing various elements "M" are discussed hereinbelow.

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

After crystallization the ELAPO product may be isolated and advantageously washed with water and dried in air. The as-synthesized ELAPO 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 ELAPO 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 ELAPO product and must be removed by calcining the ELAPO at temperatures of 200.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. to thermally degrade the organic species. In a few instances the pores of the ELAPO 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 ELAPO phase wherein the organic moiety occupying the intracrystalline pore system as a result of the hydrothermal crystallization 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 element "M", aluminum or phosphorous, 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 ELAPO material.

Since the present ELAPO compositions are formed from MO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units which, respectively, have a net charge of "n", (where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1), the matter of cation exchangeability is considerably more complicated than in the case of zeolitic molecular sieves in which, ideally, there is 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 "M" present in the reaction mixture, or an organic cation derived from the templating agent. Similarly, an MO.sub.2.sup.n tetrahedron, where "n" is negative, can be balanced electrically by association with PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedra, a cation of "M" present in the reaction mixture, organic cations derived from the templating agent, a simple cation such as an alkali metal cation, or other divalent or polyvalent metal cation, a proton (H.sup.+), or anions of 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 AsAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 600,166, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 830,889 filed Feb. 19, 1986 have a framework structure of AsO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units (where "n" is -1 or +1) 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 (As.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, bit is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements arsenic, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

There are two preferred subclasses of the AsAPO molecular sieves, depending upon whether the value of "n" is -1 or +1 (i.e. whether the arsenic is trivalent or pentavalent), it being understood that mixtures of such are permitted in a given AsAPO. When "n" is -1, the preferred values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

When "n" is +1, the preferred values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the AsAPO molecular sieves in which "n" =+1, the values of x, y and z are as follows:

AsAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of arsenic, aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the AsAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 2 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 12 hours to about 7 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the AsAPO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of arsenic, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those wherein the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieve containing arsenic, aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

AsAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare AsAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) As.sub.2 O.sub.5, arsenic (V) oxide;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide; p0 (f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

AsAPOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by dissolving the arsenic (V) oxide and the H in at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum oxide or isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the templating agent and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The BAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,812, filed Apr. 13, 1984, U.S. Ser. No. 804,248, filed Dec. 4, 1985, and U.S. Ser. No. 029,540, filed Mar. 24, 1987, have a framework structure of BO.sub.2.sup.-, 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 (B.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements boron, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The more fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the BAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y, and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

An especially preferred subclass of the BAPO molecular sieves are those in which the mole fraction, "x", of boron is not greater than about 0.3.

BAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of boron, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the BAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 14 days, and preferably about 1 to about 7 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

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

where "R" is an organic templating agent; "a" is the amount of organic templating agent "R" and is an effective amount preferably within the range of greater than zero (0) to about 6, and most preferably not more than about 1.0; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, desirably not greater than about 20, and most desirably not greater than about 10; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of boron, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from 0.5 to 2.0 moles of B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from 0.75 to 1.25 moles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 for each mole of P.sub.2 O.sub.5.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole.

The exact nature of the BAPO molecular sieves is not entirely understood at present, although all are believed to contain BO.sub.2, AlO.sub.2 and PO.sub.2 tetrahedra in the three-dimensional microporous framework structure. The low level of boron present in some of the instant molecular sieves makes it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the interactions among boron, aluminum and phosphorus. As a result, although it is believed that BO.sub.2 tetrahedra are present in the three-dimensional microporous framework structure, it is appropriate to characterize certain BAPO compositions in terms of the molar ratios of oxides.

Molecular sieves containing boron, aluminum and phosphorus as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

BAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare BAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) boric acid or trimethylborate;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinulidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N),

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclide hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) c-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

In the preferred method of synthesizing the BAPO compositions, one first combines sources of boron, aluminum and phosphorus to form an amorphous material containing all three elements, and thereafter heats the amorphous material to produce a crystalline BAPO molecular sieve. It is not necessary that the total quantities of the reactive sources of boron, aluminum and phosphorus to be used in the final reaction mixture be present in the amorphous material, since additional quantities of the elements can be added during the later heat treatment; in particular, it has been found convenient to add additional quantities of phosphorus to the amorphous material before the heat treatment. The preliminary formation of the amorphous material assists in the incorporation of the boron into the final molecular sieve.

For example, BAPOs may be prepared by forming a solution of boric acid in a methanolic solution of the templating agent, then adding a hydrated aluminosphosphate and water and stirring to form a homogeneous reaction slurry. This slurry is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The BeAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,776, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 835,293 filed Mar. 3, 1986 have a framework structure 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 lease 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, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the BeAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the BeAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are as follows:

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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the BeAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 14 days, and preferably about 1 to about 7 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the BeAPO compositions, 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 greater than about 50; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those wherein the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing beryllium, aluminum and phosphorus as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

BeAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare BeAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide; (b)pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) beryllium sulfate;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclide hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

BeAPOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by dissolving the beryllium sulfate and the H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 in at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum oxide or isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the templating agent and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. The mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C. for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The CAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,813, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 830,756 filed Feb. 19, 1986 have a 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) 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, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements chromium, aluminum and phosphorus, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. When "n" is -1 or +1, the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

When "n" is 0, the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

There are three preferred subclasses of the CAFO molecular sieves, depending upon whether the value of "n" is -1, 0 or +1 (i.e. whether the chromium has an oxidation number of 3, 4 or 5), it being understood that mixtures of such are permitted in a given CAPO. When "n" is -1, the preferred values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of these CAPO molecular sieves in which "n"=-1, the values of x, y and z are as follows:

When "n" is 0, the preferred values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

When "n" is +1, the preferred values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Since the exact nature of the CAPO molecular sieves is not clearly understood at present, although all are believed to contain CrO.sub.2 tetrahedra in the three-dimensional microporous crystal framework structure, it is advantageous to characterize the CAPO molecular sieves by means of their chemical composition. This is due to the low level of chromium present in certain of the CAPO molecular sieves prepared to date which makes it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the interaction between chromium, aluminum and phosphorous. As a result, although it is believed that CrO.sub.2 tetrahedra are substituted isomorphously for AlO.sub.2 or PO.sub.2 tetrahedra, it is appropriate to characterize certain CAPO compositions by reference to their chemical composition in terms of the mole ratios of oxides.

CAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of chromium, aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the CAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 2 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 1 to about 10 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the CAPO compositions, 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 0.6; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of chromium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from about 0.1 to about 0.4 moles of chromium, and from about 0.75 to about 1.25 moles of aluminum, per mole of phosphorous.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing chromium, aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

CAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare CAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide, or aluminum chlorhydrol;

(b)pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) chromium (III) orthophosphate, chromium (III) acetate and chromium acetate hydroxide, (Cr.sub.3 (OH).sub.2 (CH.sub.3 COO).sub.7);

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide:

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

CAPOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by adding aluminum chlorhydrol or aluminum oxide to a solution of chromium acetate hydroxide in water, then adding successively phosphoric acid and the templating agent. Between each addition, and after formation of the final mixture, the mixture is blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Alternatively, the phosphoric acid may be mixed with at least part of the water, and aluminum oxide or isopropoxide mixed in. A solution of chromium acetate hydroxide is then added, followed by the templating agent, and the resultant mixture mixed until homogeneous.

In a third procedure, amorphous chromium phosphate is ground dry with aluminum oxide and the resultant dry mixture added to an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid in an ice bath. The templating agent is then added, and the final mixture mixed until homogenous.

Whichever technique is employed to produce the reaction mixture, this mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The GaAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,771, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 830,890 filed Feb. 19, 1986 have a framework structure of GaO.sub.2.sup.-, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ 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 (Ga.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements gallium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In general, the value of "z" in the GaAPO molecular sieves is not greater than about 0.60.

In a preferred subclass of the GaAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the GaAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are as follows:

GaAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of gallium, aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., until crystals of the GaAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 4 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 1 to about 7 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the GaAPO compositions, 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 1.0; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably between about 2 and 20; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of gallium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from 0.2 to 0.5 mole of Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from 0.3 to 1 mole of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 for each mole of P.sub.2 O.sub.5.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing gallium, aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

GaAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare GaAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) gallium sulfate or gallium (III) hydroxide;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

GaAPOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by mixing the phosphoric acid with at least part of the water. To this solution the aluminum oxide or isopropoxide is added. This mixture is then blended until a homogenous mixture is observed. To this mixture the gallium sulfate or gallium hydroxide and the templating agent are successively added and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Alternatively, the aluminum oxide may be mixed with a solution of the gallium sulfate or hydroxide, and then the phosphoric acid and the templating agent successively added. The resulting mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

In a third process, the templating agent may be dissolved in water, the gallium hydroxide or sulfate added with stirring, a solution of the phosphoric acid added, and finally the aluminum oxide mixed in. The resulting mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Whichever technique is employed to form the reaction mixture, the mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressures.

The GeAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,807, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 841,753 filed March 20, 1986 have a framework structure of GeO.sub.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:

In a preferred subclass of the GeAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

An especially preferred subclass of the GeAPO molecular sieves are those in which the value of "x" is not greater than about 0.13.

GeAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of germanium, aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C., until crystals of the GeAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 2 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 1 to about 10 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the GeAPO compositions, 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 0.6; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably between about 10 and about 60; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of germanium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Especially preferred reaction mixtures are those containing from 0.2 to 0.4 mole of GeO.sub.2 and from 0.75 to 1.25 mole of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 for each mole of P.sub.2 O.sub.5.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole. Molecular sieves containing germanium, aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

GeAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare GeAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) germanium tetrachloride, germanium ethoxide and germanium dioxide;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 N.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

In some cases, it may be advantageous, when synthesizing the GeAPO compositions, to first combine sources of germanium and aluminum, to form a mixed germanium/aluminum compound (this compound being typically a mixed oxide) and thereafter to combine this mixed compound with a source of phosphorous to form the final GeAPO composition. Such mixed oxides may be prepared for example by hydrolyzing aqueous solutions containing germanium tetrachloride and aluminum chlorhydrol, or aluminum tri-sec-butoxide.

GeAPOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by mixing the phosphoric acid with at least part of the water. To this solution is added the mixed germanium/aluminum oxide prepared as described above. This mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the templating agent is added and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Alternatively, to a solution of aluminum isopropoxide may be added germanium ethoxide. The resultant solution may optionally be dried to produce a mixed oxide. To the mixed solution or dried oxide are added successively the phosphoric acid and the templating agent. The resulting mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

In a third process, a solution is formed by dissolving the phosphoric acid in water, adding aluminum oxide or isopropoxide and mixing thoroughly. To the resultant mixture is added a solution containing the templating agent and germanium dioxide. The resulting mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Whichever technique is employed to form the reaction mixture, the mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The LiAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,811, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 834,921 filed Feb. 28, 1986 have a framework structure of LiO.sub.2.sup.-3, 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:

mR:(Li.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2

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 (Li.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements lithium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the LiAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the LiAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the following limits:

LiAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of lithium, aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the LiAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 12 hours to about 5 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the LiAPO compositions, 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 2; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between 2 and 300, most preferably not greater than about 40; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of lithium, aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In an especially preferred subclass of the reaction mixtures, the values of "x", "y" and "z" are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole.

Since the exact nature of the LiAPO molecular sieves is not clearly understood at present, although all are believed to contain LiO.sub.2 tetrahedra in the three-dimensional microporous crystal framework structure, it is advantageous to characterize the LiAPO molecular sieves by means of their chemical composition. This is due to the low level of lithium present in certain of the LiAPO molecular sieves prepared to date which makes it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the interaction between lithium, aluminum and phosphorous. As a result, although it is believed that LiO.sub.2 tetrahedra are substituted isomorphously for AlO.sub.2 or PO.sub.2 tetrahedra, it is appropriate to characterize certain LiAPO compositions by reference to their chemical composition in terms of the mole ratios of oxides.

Molecular sieves containing lithium, aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as followed:

LiAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare LiAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) lithium sulfate or lithium orthophosphate;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.3 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

LiAPOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by suspending aluminum oxide in at least part of the water. To this mixture the templating agent is added. The resultant mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the lithium phosphate or sulfate is added and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. Alternatively, an initial mixture may be formed by mixing aluminum oxide and lithium phosphate or sulfate. To the resultant mixture are added successively phosphoric acid and an aqueous solution of &:he templating agent, and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

In a third procedure, the phosphoric acid is mixed with at least part of the water, and the aluminum oxide is mixed in. To the resultant mixture are added lithium sulfate and the templating agent, and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

Whichever procedure is adopted to form the reaction mixture, the mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The FeTiAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,824, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 902,129 filed Sept. 2, 1986 have three-dimensional microporous framework structures of FeO.sub.2.sup.n, TiO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units, where "n" is -2 or -1, 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 iron and titanium; "m" represents the molar amount of "R" present per mole of (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero (0) to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M", aluminum and phosphorus, respectively present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the FeTiAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

FeTiAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of iron, titanium, aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the FeTiAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 12 hours to about 5 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the FeTiAPO compositions, 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; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M" (iron and titanium), aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole.

Molecular sieves containing iron, titanium, aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

FeTiAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. The preferred sources of iron and titanium for preparing FeTiAPOs are the same as those for preparing the FeAPOs and TiAPOs already described above. Other reagents which may be employed to prepare FeTiAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(e) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(f) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(g) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(h) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(i) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(j) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(k) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(1) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(m) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

FeTiAPOs may be prepared by forming a homogeneous reaction mixture containing reactive sources of iron, titanium, aluminum and phosphorous. The reaction mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The XAPO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,810, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 902,020 filed Sept. 2, 1986 have a three-dimensional microporous framework structure of MO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units, where "n" is 0, -1 or -2, 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 at least one element from each of the classes of: (1) iron and titanium; and (2) cobalt, magnesium, manganese and zinc; "n" is 0, -1 or "2; "m" represents a molar amount of "R" present per mole of (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero (0) to about 0.3; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M", aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the XAPO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

XAPO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of "M", aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the XAPO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 2 hours to about 20 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the XAPO compositions, 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; "M" represents at least one element from each of the classes of: (1) iron and titanium; and (2) cobalt, magnesium, manganese and zinc; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M" (iron and/or titanium, and at least one of cobalt, magnesium, manganese and zinc), aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, and each has a value of at least 0.01, with the proviso that "x" has a value of at least 0.02.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole.

XAPO molecular sieves are prepared as follows:

XAPO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. The preferred sources of elements "M" for preparing XAPOs are the same as those for preparing other APOs containing the same elements, as described above and below. Other reagents which may be employed to prepare XAPOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(e) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(f) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(g) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N

(h) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N );

(i) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(j) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(k) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide

(l) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(m) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

XAPOs may be prepared by forming a homogenous reaction mixture containing reactive sources of element "M", aluminum and phosphorous. The reaction mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The mixed element APO molecular sieves of U.S. Ser. No. 599,978, filed Apr. 13, 1984, and U.S. Ser. No. 846,088 filed Mar. 31, 1986 have a framework structure of MO.sub.2.sup.n, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral units, wherein MO.sub.2.sup.n represents at least two different elements present as tetrahedral units "MO.sub.2.sup.n " with charge "n" , where "n" may be -3, -2, -1, or 0 or +1. One of the elements "M" is selected from the group consisting of arsenic, beryllium, boron, chromium, gallium, germanium, lithium and vanadium, while a second one of the elements "M" is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese, titanium and zinc. Preferably, "M" is a mixture of lithium and magnesium. The mixed-element 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 (M.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 and has a value of zero to about 0.3, but is preferably not greater than 0.15; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of the elements "M" (i.e. "x" is the total of the mole fractions of the two or more elements "M"), aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, present as tetrahedral oxides. The mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

In a preferred subclass of the mixed-element APO molecular sieves the values of x, y and z are within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

An especially preferred subclass of the mixed-element APO molecular sieves are those in which the value of x is not greater than about 0.10.

A second group (FCAPO's) of mixed element APO molecular sieves are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,686,093 issued Aug. 11, 1987 (incorporated herein by reference). The mixed-element APO compositions are generally synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization from a reaction mixture containing reactive sources of the elements "M", aluminum and phosphorous, 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 about 50.degree. C. and about 250.degree. C., and preferably between about 100.degree. C. and about 200.degree. C. until crystals of the APO product are obtained, usually a period of from several hours to several weeks. Typical effective times of from 2 hours to about 30 days, generally from about 2 hours to about 20 days, and preferably about 12 hours to about 5 days, have been observed. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the mixed-element APO compositions, 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 0.5; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300, most preferably not greater than about 20, and most desirably not more than about 10; and "x", "y" and "z" represent the mole fractions of "M" , aluminum and phosphorous, respectively, "y" and "z" each having a value of at least 0.01 and "x" having a value of at least 0.02, with each element "M" having a mole fraction of at least 0.01.

In one embodiment the reaction mixture is selected such that the mole fractions "x", "y" and "z" are generally defined as being within the limiting compositional values or points as follows:

Preferred reaction mixtures are those containing not more than about 0.2 moles of the metals "M" per mole of phosphorous.

In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "x", "y" and "z" such that (x+y+z)=1.00 mole.

Since the exact nature of the mixed-element APO molecular sieves is not clearly understood at present, although all are believed to contain MO.sub.2 tetrahedra in the three-dimensional microporous crystal framework structure, it is advantageous to characterize the mixed-element APO molecular sieves by means of their chemical composition. This is due to the low level of the elements "M" present in certain of the mixed-element APO molecular sieves prepared to date which makes it difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the interaction between the metals "M", aluminum and phosphorous. As a result, although it is believed that MO.sub.2 tetrahedra are substituted isomorphously for AlO.sub.2 or PO.sub.2 tetrahedra, it is appropriate to characterize certain mixed-element APO compositions by reference to their chemical composition in terms of the mole ratios of oxides.

Molecular sieves containing the metals "M", aluminum and phosphorous as framework tetrahedral oxide units are prepared as follows:

Mixed-element APO compositions may be prepared by using numerous reagents. Reagents which may be employed to prepare mixed-element APOs include:

(a) aluminum isopropoxide;

(b) pseudoboehmite or other aluminum oxide;

(c) H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 : 85 weight percent aqueous phosphoric acid;

(d) lithium phosphate or magnesium hydroxide or appropriate salts of the other elements "M", as described above;

(e) TEAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetraethylammonium hydroxide;

(f) TBAOH: 40 weight percent aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide;

(g) Pr.sub.2 NH: di-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.2 NH;

(h) Pr.sub.3 N: tri-n-propylamine, (C.sub.3 H.sub.7).sub.3 N;

(i) Quin: Quinuclidine, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 N);

(j) MQuin: Methyl Quinuclidine hydroxide, (C.sub.7 H.sub.13 NCH.sub.3 OH);

(k) C-hex: cyclohexylamine;

(l) TMAOH: tetramethylammonium hydroxide;

(m) TPAOH: tetrapropylammonium hydroxide; and

(n) DEEA: 2-diethylaminoethanol.

Mixed element APOs may be prepared by forming a starting reaction mixture by mixing aluminum oxide, magnesium hydroxide, lithium phosphate (or the corresponding salts of the other elements "M"). To this mixture the phosphoric acid is added. The resultant mixture is then blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed. To this mixture the templating agent is added and the resulting mixture blended until a homogeneous mixture is observed.

The reaction mixture is then placed in a lined (polytetrafluoroethylene) stainless steel pressure vessel and digested at a temperature (150.degree. C. or 200.degree. C.) for a time or placed in lined screw top bottles for digestion at 100.degree. C. Digestions are typically carried out under autogenous pressure.

The silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,871 (incorporated herein by reference), and U.S. Ser. No. 575,745, filed Jan. 31, 1984.

The molecular sieves useful in this invention can be made by the hydrothermal crystallization of reactive gel precursors to the molecular sieve structure. The molecular sieve gel precursors depend upon the structure being made. Both metals and metals oxides can be utilized in the gel precursors to the molecular sieve framework constituents. In the case of an aluminosilicate based crystal framework, the precursors are the typical aluminate and silicate compositions employed for making such aluminosilicates. In the case of a silica based crystal framework, the precursors are elemental silicon, silicon dioxide in the form of colloidal silica or silica gels. The molecular sieve phase may be made by conventional procedures in the art.

The class of non-zeolitic aluminophosphate based molecular sieves may be synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization of reactive aluminum and phosphorus containing gels containing optionally the additional framework elements and an organic template, at temperatures from about 50.degree. C. (122.degree. F.) to about 250.degree. C. (482.degree. F.), preferably from about 100.degree. C. (212.degree. F.) to about 225.degree. C. (437.degree. F.). The optimum crystallization temperature depends on composition and structure. The AlPO.sub.4 and SAPO materials tend not to crystallize at temperatures below about 125.degree. C. (257.degree. F.), whereas several of the MeAPO species crystallize readily at about 100.degree. C. (212.degree. F.).

QAPSO compositions may be synthesized by hydrothermal crystallizations from a reaction mixture containing active sources of elements(s) "Q" (optional), silicon (optional), aluminum and phosphorus, preferably an organic templating, i.e., structure-directing, agent which is preferably a compound of an element of Group VA of the Periodic Table, and 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 an effective temperature which is preferably between about 100.degree. C. (212.degree. F.) and about 225.degree. C. (437.degree. F.), more preferably between 100.degree. C. (212.degree. C.) and 200.degree. C. (424.degree. F.), until crystals of the specific variety of QAPSO product are obtained, usually an effective crystallization time of from several hours to several weeks. Generally, effective crystallization times of from about 2 hours to about 30 days are employed with typically from 4 hours to about 20 days being employed to obtain the QAPSO product version. The product is recovered by any convenient method such as centrifugation or filtration.

In synthesizing the QAPSO compositions used in the instant invention, it is preferred to employ a reaction mixture composition expressed in terms of 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; "b" has a value of from zero (0) to about 500, preferably between about 2 and about 300; "Q" represents at least one element, as hereinbefore described, capable of forming a framework oxide unit, QO.sub.2.sup.n, with SiO.sub.2, AlO.sub.2.sup.- and PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedral oxide units; "n" has a value of -3, -2, -1, 0 or +1; and "w", "x", "y", "z" are as defined above. In the foregoing expression of the reaction composition, the reactants are normalized with respect to the total of "w", "x", "y", and "z" such that w+x+y+z=1.00 mole, whereas in the examples in the reaction mixtures may be expressed in terms of molar oxide ratios normalized to the moles of P.sub.2 O.sub.5. This latter form is readily converted to the former form by routine calculations by dividing the number of moles of each component (including the template and water) by the total number of moles of elements "Q", aluminum, phosphorus and silicon which results in normalized mole fractions based on total moles of the aforementioned components.

In forming reaction mixtures from which the QAPSO molecular sieves are formed, an organic templating agent is preferably employed and may be any of those heretofore proposed for use in the synthesis of conventional zeolite aluminosilicates but, in any case, the template chosen is that template taught in the art for making the particular QAPSO being made. In general, these compounds contain elements of groups 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 two 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 may be necessary or useful in producing a particular QAPSO. The initial gel pH in most cases is weakly acidic facilitating the successful incorporation of the hydrolyzable metal cation form of the elements into the frameworks, and inhibiting their precipitation as spurious hydroxides or oxides. Representative templating agents include: quaternary alkylammonium ions such as tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, tetrapropylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, and tetrapentylammonium and amines such as di-n-propylamine, tripropylamine, triethylamine, triethanolamine, piperidine, cyclohexylamine,, 2-methylpyridine, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, N,N-dimethylethanolamine, choline, N,N'-dimethypiperazine, 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane, N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methylethanolamine, N-methylpiperidine, 3-methylpiperidine, N-methylcyclohexylamine, 3-methylpyridine, 4-methylpyridine, quinuclidine, N,N'-dimethyl-1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane, di-n-butylamine, neopentylamine, di-n-pentylamine, isopropylamine, t- butylamine, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, pyrrolidine, 2-imidazolidone, and the like. Not every templating agent will direct the formation of every species of QAPSO, i.e., a single templating agent may, with proper manipulation of the reaction conditions, direct the formation of several QAPSO compositions, and a given QAPSO composition can be produced using several different templating agents.

As Flanigen et al., in a paper entitled, "Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves and the Periodic Table", published in the "New Developments in Zeolite Science and Technology" Proceedings of the 7th International Zeolite Conference, edited by Y. Murakami, A. Iijima and J. W. Ward, point out:

"The organic template appears to play a critical structure-directing role. The template is trapped or clathrated in the structural voids as the crystals grow. Over eighty five amines and quaternary ammonium species have been used successfully as crystallization templates, including primary, secondary, tertiary and cyclic amines, and alkanolamines. The degree of template-structure specificity varies from the crystallization of AlPO.sub.4 -5 with twenty-three templates to the formation of AlPO.sub.4 -20 with only one template. Table 6, a summary of typical templates forming the major structures, amply illustrates one template forming many structures (11, 31, 41 and 46 with di-n-propylamine). Here, structure control is exercised by other synthesis variables such as temperature, template concentration, gel oxide composition, and pH. The influence of the template is both steric and electronic, and typically exhibits the neat stoichiometry and space-filling characteristics illustrated for AlPO.sub.4 -5 and 11."

The foregoing description of the role of the templating agent is characteristic of the general role of templating agents in respect to the manufacture of the QAPSO family. The source of silicon may be silicon metal in various shapes and sizes, silica, either as a silica sol or as fumed silica, a reactive solid amorphous precipitated silica, silica gel, alkoxides of silicon, silica containing clays, silicic acid or alkali metal silicates and mixtures thereof.

The most suitable phosphorus source yet found for the aluminophosphates is phosphoric acid, but organic phosphates such as triethyl phosphate have been found satisfactory, and so also have crystalline or amorphous aluminophosphates such as the AlPO.sub.4 compositions of U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,440. Organo-phosphorus compounds, such as tetrabutylphosphonium bromide do not appear to serve as reactive sources of phosphorus, but these compounds do 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 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, aluminum-containing clays, sodium aluminate and aluminum trichloride, can be employed but are not preferred. The elements(s) "Q" can be introduced into the reaction system in any form which permits the formation in situ of a reactive form of the element, i.e., reactive to form a framework oxide unit of element "Q". Compounds of element(s) "Q" which may be employed include (but are not limited to) oxides, hydroxides, alkoxides, sulfates, halides, carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Representative compounds which may be employed include inter alia: carboxylates of arsenic and beryllium; cobalt chloride hexahydrate, alpha cobaltous iodide; cobaltous sulfate; cobalt acetate; cobaltous bromide, cobaltous chloride; boron alkoxides; chromium acetate; gallium alkoxides; zinc acetate; zinc bromide; zinc formate; zinc iodide; zinc sulfate heptahydrate; germanium dioxide; iron (II) acetate; lithium acetate; magnesium acetate; magnesium bromide; magnesium chloride; magnesium iodide; magnesium sulfate; manganese acetate; manganese bromide; manganese sulfate; titanium tetrachloride; titanium carboxylates; titanium acetate; zinc acetate; and the like.

After crystallization, the QAPSO product may be isolated and advantageously washed with water and dried in air. The as-synthesized QAPSO generally contains within its internal pore system at least one form of any templating agent employed in its formation. Most commonly, this organic moiety, derived from any organic template, is at least in part present as a charge-balancing cation, as generally is 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 may be an occluded molecular species in a particular QAPSO 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 QAPSO product and must be removed by calcining the QAPSO at temperatures of 200.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. to thermally degrade the organic species. In some instances the pores of the QAPSO compositions 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 may 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 QAPSO species wherein any organic moiety occupying the intracrystalline pore system as a result of the hydrothermal crystallization 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 elements(s) "Q", aluminum, phosphorous and/or silicon, the corresponding alcohol is necessarily present in the reaction mixture since it is a hydrolysis product of the alkoxide. As has been reported repeatedly in the NZMS patent literature, it has not been determined whether this alcohol participates in the synthesis process as a templating agent. For the purposes of this invention, however, this alcohol is arbitrarily omitted from the class of templating agents, even if it is present in the as-synthesized QAPSO material.

Since the present QAPSO compositions are formed from AlO.sub.2.sup.-, PO.sub.2.sup.+, SiO.sub.2 and QO.sub.2.sup.n framework oxide units which, respectively, has a net charge of -1, +1, 0 and "n", where "n" is -3, -2, -1, 0 or +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.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 or proton, a cation of the element "Q" present in the reaction mixture, or an organic cation derived from the templating agent. Similarly, an QO.sub.2.sup.n oxide can be balanced electrically by association with PO.sub.2.sup.+ tetrahedra, a simple cation such as an alkali metal cation, a cation of the metal "Q", organic cations derived from the templating agent, or other divalent or polyvalent metal cations introduced from an extraneous source. The QAPSO compositions may exhibit cation- exchange capacity when analyzed using ion-exchange techniques heretofore employed with zeolite aluminosilicates and have pore diameters which are inherent in the lattice structure of each species and which are at least about 3 Angstroms in diameter. Dehydration to remove water present in the as-synthesized QAPSO 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 QAPSO materials will have various degrees of hydrothermal and thermal stability.

Zeolite structures, used to make the inorganic crystalline composition layer of the composite compositions of this invention, may be generated by the hydrothermal crystallization of an aluminate and silicate under basic conditions. Aqueous gels of the reactants are heated at temperatures ranging from about 50.degree. C. (122.degree. F.) to about 200.degree. C. (392.degree. F.), preferably from about 100.degree. C. (212.degree. F.) to about 175.degree. C. (347.degree. F.). The optimum crystallization temperature depends on composition and structure. A good characterization of processes for the manufacture of zeolites can be found in Chapter Four of Breck, Zeolite Molecular Sieves, Publ. by John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1974.

Silica molecular sieves may be generated by hydrothermal crystallization treatment of aqueous gel precursors or of aqueous solutions containing a sacrificial source of silicon. A good characterization of a process for the manufacture of silica molecular sieves, e.g., silicalite, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,724. A good characterization of a process for the preparation of crystalline silica polymorphs, e.g., silicalite, using elemental silicon as the silicon source can be found in European Patent Application 0 137 289, published Apr. 17, 1985.

The present articles which are components of the moisture sensing elements are electrically continuous. The inorganic crystalline compositions useful in this invention are typically prepared as microcrystalline solids with an average particle size on the order of about 10 microns or less. Individual crystallites are electrically continuous but are too small to be employed alone as sensing elements. Powders can not be used as the sensing element because the electrical response of the powder would be dominated by intercrystalline grain boundary effects. Powder compacts may be employed as sensing elements. A method of preparing a pressed powder compact, the density of which approaches that of a single crystal, has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,186,225. For example, the inorganic crystalline composition powder can be heated to 200.degree. C. and compressed at 40,000 psi for three minutes. This method yields pressed powder compacts which have a density between 70% and 90% of the single crystal density. Densities less than these values may be employed and may, in fact, be preferred to provide more rapid response times. The compacts should be sufficiently dense so that the electrical response is not dominated by intercrystalline grain boundary effects. Another method of preparing the inorganic crystalline composition-containing articles is to employ an adhesive to bind the particles together. Such adhesive should be effective to bind the individual particles, without unduly or detrimentally affecting the electrical impedance of the article and the water adsorption/desorption properties of the inorganic crystalline composition contained in the article. In effect, the adhesive should be such as to not interfere with the article as a component of a humidity or moisture sensing element. Examples of useful adhesives include clays, silicas, aluminas, aluminosilicates and the like which are well known as binders when molecular sieves are used as catalysts or adsorbents.

The article preferably includes a major amount, more preferable at least about 90%, by weight of one or more of the presently useful inorganic crystalline composition. In a particularly useful embodiment, the article is substantially totally one or more, preferably one, of such inorganic crystalline compositions.

The inorganic crystalline composition-containing article is preferably prepared in such a fashion so as to increase sensitivity and reduce response time. Thus, the article should be thick enough so that sufficient pore volume is available that enough water may be adsorbed to change the impedance but not so thick as to inhibit diffusion of water through the article. The article is preferably about 0.1 inch to about 2 inches in thickness, i.e., the shortest distance between substantially opposing faces of the article. The article may be configured in any suitable shape provided it functions as described herein.

The impedance may be measured directly or the measurement may be carried out indirectly by incorporating the sensing element in a feedback circuit of an oscillator such that the oscillator frequency varies with moisture content. Moisture content may then be determined using an electronic counter. The signal thus produced may be used to modulate a radio signal and thereby be transmitted over a distance.

The electrodes may be made of any suitable electrically conductive material, preferably metal, substantially not affected by the environment being analyzed. They may be affixed or attached using conventional procedures, such as screen printing, sputtering and the like. They may be situated to form a parallel plate or a coplanar configuration. In the parallel plate configuration, electrodes are placed onto substantially opposing surfaces of the article. In the coplanar configuration, the electrodes are placed at different locations on the same surface of the article.

The electrodes are preferably porous. Porosity may be achieved by utilizing a screen, by sputtering in such a fashion as to give porous electrodes or by mechanically removing some of the electrode following deposition to decrease electrode surface area while retaining electrical continuity. The electrodes may be in the form of nonporous circles or squares as long as their surface area does not impede diffusion. They may also be in the form of nonporous interdigitated electrodes. In addition, these electrodes may be made porous by mechanical means following deposition. The electrodes should be sufficiently large that sensitivity and measurement frequency are optimized but not so large that diffusion of the adsorbing species and therefore response time is limited.

To realize maximum utility as a moisture sensing element, it must respond rapidly to changes in the surrounding water vapor pressure. For a 1/4-inch diameter by 1/4-inch thich article the response time at high water vapor pressures is measurable in seconds; the response time at extremely low water vapor pressures is measurable in minutes. A faster response may be achieved by reducing the volume of the article, and by increasing the exposed surface of the article.

The electrical properties of the article are more affected by polar than by non-polar adsorbates. Normal atmospheric constituents, other than water, however, show nonappreciable effect on such properties. Non-polar materials will ordinarily affect such properties slightly, but their effect on the water loading capability of the inorganic crystalline compositions must be considered. In any case, proper calibration, if the concentration of the interfering material is known, can overcome this difficulty. For example, the rapid determination of the water content of organic liquids such as ethanol or hexane is feasible provided that the sensing element is calibrated with a series of samples of known water content and the medium is not otherwise contaminated. In these cases, alternatively, the sensing element can be made of an inorganic crystalline composition which is of such a pore size that it will not adsorb the organic liquid.

Being ionic conductors, crystalline zeolites are subject to polarization by direct current. The rate of polarization has been shown to be slow, however, so that a pulsed direct current resistance measuring circuit is feasible. Difficulties with polarization are best overcome by using an alternate current (A.C.) measuring circuit. With all the presently useful inorganic crystalline compositions, it is preferred to use an A.C. measuring circuit.

In many instances, the change in electrical impedance due to temperature varies substantially linearly. Thus, in these situations, compensating for temperature is relatively easy. In any event, the change in impedance due to temperature can be compensated for by employing an identical element hermetically sealed, by use of any of the temperature-controlling methods commonly employed with electronic measuring devices or by actual calibration over a range of temperatures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention in a parallel plate configuration. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention is a coplanar configuration.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a humidity sensor, shown generally at 10, which includes a pressed zeolite powder compact 12, and an impedance analyzer 14. Gold electrodes 16 and 18 are attached, e.g., by screen printing or sputtering, to compact 12 at top surface 20 and bottom surface 22, respectively.

Electrodes 16 and 18 may be impervious to moisture so long as they do not cover a relatively large portion of, in particular substantially all of, top and bottom surfaces 20 and 22, respectively. However, it is preferred that electrodes 16 and 18 be porous. Such porosity can be achieved by utilizing screen printing, by sputtering or by mechanically removing some of the electrode following deposition to decrease electrode surface area while retaining electrical continuity. Electrodes 16 and 18 are suitably sized to be large enough to provide acceptable sensitivity and measurement frequency but not so large that diffusion in and out of compact 12, and therefore response time, is unduly restricted or limited.

Teflon coated wire leads 24 and 26 are attached, using silver paint, to electrodes 16 and 18, respectively. The wire leads 24 and 26 are also connected to impedance analyzer 14 so that as an alternating electric current is passed between electrodes 16 and 18 through compact 12, the impedance of compact 12 can be measured by impedance analyzer 14. A particularly useful instrument as the impedance analyzer 16 is a Hewlett-Packard 4192A AC impedance analyzer.

Compact 12 is composed of the zeolite sodium LZ-210, which has a silica to alumina mol ratio of about 9.0. Compact 12 is prepared by compacting 1.5 grams of the zeolite under vacuum at 40,000 psig. for 3 minutes while heating at 200.degree. C.

Humidity sensor 10 functions as follows. Compact 12, along with electrodes 16 and 18 and attached wire leads 24 and 26, is placed in a gaseous environment the humidity of which is to be determined. The wire leads 24 and 26 are connected to impedance analyzer 14, as described above. After a period of time, e.g., on the order of about 20 minutes, substantial adsorption equilibrium between the compact 12 and the surrounding environment is achieved. At this point, impedance analyzer 14 is caused to pass a controlled alternating current between electrodes 16 and 18 through compact 12, and to measure the impedance of compact 12 at the humidity conditions present in the environment surrounding compact 12. It should be noted that the impedance can be measured directly and/or through conventional frequency modulation, as described elsewhere herein. This impedance measurement is related to the concentration (e.g., partial pressure) of water in this environment. Humidity sensor 10 can be calibrated in advance to provide a humidity/impedance relationship or curve. Thus, by knowing the impedance of compact 12, one can easily determine the humidity, i.e., the water concentration, of the surrounding environment.

The embodiment schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 is, except as expressly below, structured and functions similarly to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The principal difference between the two embodiments is in the placement of the electrodes. Components in FIG. 2 which correspond to components in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numeral increased by 100.

In FIG. 2, humidity sensor 110, like humidity sensor 10, includes gold electrode 116 on top surface 120 of compact 112. However, gold electrode 28 is also attached to top surface 120 of compact 112, a distance away from electrode 116. This configuration in which both electrodes are located on the same surface is referred to as the coplanar configuration. Electrode 28 may be structured as described above with regard to electrodes 16 and 18. In addition, all of the electrodes may be in the form of nonporous shapes, e.g., circles or squares, so long as their surface area does not impede diffusion in and out of the compacts. In addition, the electrodes may be in the form of nonporous interdigitated electrodes.

Humidity sensor 110 functions in a manner similar to that described above with regard to humidity sensor 10. The following non-limiting examples further illustrate certain aspects of the present invention.

A pressed powder compact of the zeolite sodium LZ-210, having a silica to alumina mol ratio of about 9.0 was prepared by compacting 1.5 grams of the zeolite under vacuum at 40,000 psig. for three minutes while heating at 200.degree. C. Three eighths inch gold electrodes were sputtered onto the opposite faces of this one inch compact. The electrodes were connected to wire leads and a Hewlett-Packard 4192A AC impedance analyzer to provide a humidity sensor similar in configuration to humidity sensor 10 of FIG. 1, described above. The compact and electrodes were placed in a sample cell, i.e., a volume in which the humidity can be controlled, for testing. The temperature of the sample cell was controlled by an Omega CN2011 Programmable Temperature Controller. Fluid streams containing a known amount of water for inclusion in the sample cell were generated in one of several ways: for generation of streams containing ppm or lower levels of entrained water a Kintek 570-C Precision Gas Standards Generator was used and the level of entrained water confirmed with a DuPont 5700 Moisture Analyzer; for generation of streams with entrained moisture levels between 11.5% and 97% relative humidity nitrogen was bubbled through saturated aqueous salt solutions of known water vapor pressure; and 100% relative humidity streams were prepared by bubbling nitrogen through water. Previous experiments showed that the impedance of the present humidity sensors was not sensitive to the presence of nitrogen or oxygen gas.

A series of tests were run at differing partial pressures of water. The compact reached equilibrium with the fluid in the sample cell in less than 20 minutes. The electrical resistance measured by the impedance analyzer as a function of the partial pressure of water at 187.degree. C. was as follows:

The measured resistance of this humidity sensor was not linear over the entire water pressure range examined. However, it was substantially linear in the regions between 0 and 4 torr and between 5 and 24 torr, and, thus, the humidity sensor could easily be used in these regions.

Example 1 was repeated, except that a series of water vapor/nitrogen fluid systems were used in the sample cell during testing. The electrical resistance measured by the impedance analyzer as a function of the water vapor level was as follows:

These results indicate that a humidity sensor structured as described herein has substantial utility.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within the scope of the following claims.