Synthesis of type Y zeolite

Claim 1

A process for preparing type Y zeolite comprising: (a) preparing a slurry of zeolitic nucleation centers having an average particle size below about 0.1 micron, said slurry having the following mol ratio composition: 12 to 19 Na 2 O; 0.7 to 9 Al 2 O 3 ; 12 to 19 SiO 2 ; 220 to 900 H 2 O; (b) preparing an intermediate reaction mixture by combining the nucleation center composition of step (a) with additional sources of Na 2 O, Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 and H 2 O to obtain a mixture having the following mol ratio composition: 2 to 6 Na 2 O; 4.5 to 11 SiO 2 ; Al 2 O 3 ; 30 to 200 H 2 O; (c) agitating and heating said intermediate reaction mixture of step (b) at a temperature of from about 30° to 80° C.; (d) mixing an acid compound selected from the group comprising mineral acids, aluminum salts of mineral acids and mixtures thereof to the reaction mixture of step (c) to obtain a final reaction mixture having the following mol ratio composition: 0.5 to 2.5 Na n (A); 1.2 to 3 Na 2 O; 4 to 7.5 SiO 2 ; Al 2 O 3 ; 40 to 200 H 2 O; wherein A is a mineral acid anion and n is the valence of A; and (e) heating the final reaction mixture of step (d) to a temperature of from about 80° to 150° C. for from about 2 to 40 hours to obtain type Y zeolite.