Yttrium silicate molecular sieves

Claim 2

A molecular sieve comprising a complex represented in terms of mole ratios of oxides as follows: aA.sub.2 O:Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 :bSiO.sub.2 :cH.sub.2 O wherein A is an alkali metal; a is a number ranging from about 0.5 to about 20; b is a number ranging from about 2 to about 400; and c is a number ranging from about 1 to about 500.

Claim 3

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein the Si/Y ratio is less than about six, said complex showing at least the following significant x-ray diffraction lines: ______________________________________ Interplanar Relative Spacing d(A) Intensity ______________________________________ 11.30 ± 0.40 s 6.22 ± 0.15 s 5.54 ± 0.15 w-m 3.55 ± 0.08 w 3.09 ± 0.06 s 2.99 ± 0.05 s 2.83 ± 0.04 w 2.76 ± 0.03 w-m 2.41 ± 0.03 w 2.22 ± 0.03 w 2.17 ± 0.02 w 2.01 ± 0.02 w ______________________________________

Claim 4

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein the Si/Y ratio is greater than about six, said complex showing at least the following significant x-ray diffraction lines: ______________________________________ Interplanar Relative Spacing d(A) Intensity ______________________________________ 12.30 ± 0.50 m 7.06 ± 0.15 vs 6.57 ± 0.15 m 6.08 ± 0.15 w 5.83 ± 0.10 w 4.80 ± 0.10 m 4.48 ± 0.08 m 3.74 ± 0.08 w 3.48 ± 0.06 w 3.09 ± 0.05 m 2.99 ± 0.05 m-s 2.90 ± 0.04 w-m 2.73 ± 0.04 m 2.16 ± 0.03 w ______________________________________

Claim 5

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein a is in the range of from about 0.8 to about 10.

Claim 6

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein b is in the range of from about 3 to about 200.

Claim 7

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein c is in the range of from about 1 to about 200.

Claim 8

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein A is sodium.

Claim 9

The molecular sieve of claim 1 wherein Y is trivalent.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 with the step of separating said yttrium silicate from its mother liquor.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 with the step of washing said yttrium silicate.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 with the step of ion exchanging said yttrium silicate with an ammonium salt or the salt of a catalytically active metal to provide an ion exchanged yttrium silicate.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 with the step of heat treating said ion exchanged yttrium silicate in an inert, oxidizing or reducing atmosphere.

Claim 16

The method of claim 9 wherein a hydroxide compound is the source of silicon, yttrium or alkali metal and the mole ratio of OH-- to Y is in the range of about 1:1 to about 25:1.

Claim 17

The method of claim 9 wherein said mixture is heated in an enclosed reactor under autogeneous pressure.

Claim 18

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of silicon is an oxide, hydroxide or alkoxide of silicon.

Claim 19

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of silicon is a silica gel, silicic acid, silica sol or silicate.

Claim 20

The method of claim 9 in which said source of silicon is a silica sol.

Claim 21

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of yttrium is an oxide, hydroxide or salt of yttrium.

Claim 22

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of yttrium is an inorganic salt of yttrium.

Claim 23

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of yttrium is an organic salt of yttrium.

Claim 24

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of yttrium is a nitrate, sulfate, halide, carbonate, silicate or of yttrium.

Claim 25

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of yttrium is an acetate, formate, butyrate, propionate or benzylate of yttrium.

Claim 26

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of yttrium is yttrium chloride, yttrium chloride hydrate or yttrium oxide.

Claim 27

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of alkali metal is oxide, hydroxide or salt of said alkali metal.

Claim 28

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of alkali metal is an inorganic salt of said alkali metal.

Claim 29

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of alkali metal is an organic salt of said alkali metal.

Claim 30

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of alkali metal is a nitrate, halide, sulfate, carbonate, silicate or of said alkali metal.

Claim 31

The method of claim 9 wherein said source of alkali metal is an acetate, formate, butyrate, propionate or benzylate of said alkali metal.

Claim 32

The method of claim 9 wherein said alkali metal is sodium.

Claim 33

The method of claim 30 wherein said source of sodium is sodium hydroxide.

Claim 34

The method of claim 9 wherein said temperature is in the range of about 100° C. to about 200° C.

Claim 35

The method of claim 9 wherein said period of time is in the range of from about 1 hour to about 30 days.

Claim 36

The method of claim 9 wherein said period of time is in the range of from about 6 hours to about 14 days.

Claim 39

The method of claim 35 with the step of heat treating said ion-exchanged yttrium silicate in an inert, oxidizing or reducing atmosphere.

Claim 40

The product of claim 35.

Claim 41

The product of claim 36.