Mesoporous aluminophosphate and silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves: Room temperature synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance

Mesoporous aluminophosphate (AIPO) and silicon substituted aluminophosphate molecular sieves (SAPO) have been synthesized using ordered array of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as structure-directing agent at room temperature. The characteristics of these new materials are ascertained by low angle XRD, TGA, Ff-IR, SEM and DRlFf spectra. Vapour phase ethylation of toluene has been attempted over these molecular sieves as a probe reaction. The principal product is pethyltoluene in this reaction. This study also indicates more free uncondensed -OH groups in pure AI PO.