Process for preparing a zeolite of the L type using organic templates

Claim 1

A process for synthesizing a crystalline, potassium-containing zeolite having a (Si,Ge)O 2 to (Al,Ga) 2 O 3 ratio of from 3 to 7 and an X-ray powder diffraction pattern which is essentially that given in Table I which comprises: (a) preparing a reaction mixture comprising water, potassium silicate, optionally a source of germania, a source of alumina or gallia, a tetraalkylammonium salt wherein the cation is a tetraethylammonium, tetrapropylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, or bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)dimethylammonium cation, a source of potassium, and up to about 40% by mole fraction of a source of sodium based on total sources of potassium and sodium, said reaction mixtures having a composition, in terms of mole ratios of oxides, within the following ranges: (M,R) 2 O:(Al,Ga) 2 O 3 : 1.4 to 4 (Si,Ge) 2 O:(Al,Ga) 2 O 3 : 2.5 to 15 H 2 O:(Al,Ga) 2 O 3 : 90 to 200 R 2 O:M 2 O: 0.05 to 0.5 where M is K or a mixture of K and Na, and R is the tetraalkylammonium cation; and (b) maintaining the reaction mixture, while it is substantially homogeneous, at between about 70° and 260° C. for between about 1 and 10 days until substantially pure crystals of said zeolite are formed.