Synthesis of a novel crystalline vanadium silicate having the MEL stru
cture (silicalite-2) is reported. Tetraethyl orthosilicate and vanadyl
sulfate were the raw materials and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide was t
he additive. The influence of various synthesis para meters such as th
e Si/V molar ratio, concentration of the organic base, and dilution le
vels on the crystallization of vanadium silicate has been investigated
. The kinetics of crystallization has been followed using X-ray powder
diffraction, SEM, framework i.r., and e.s.r. spectroscopic techniques
. Under optimum conditions of synthesis, vanadium is incorporated as C
4+ in a progressive manner in the MEL framework during the crystalliza
tion process. After calcination in air at 773 K, most of the vanadium
(as V5+) is still intact within the silicalite structure.