Preparation, characterisation and catalytic activity of ITQ-2, a delaminated zeolite

ITQ-2 is the first member of the class of delaminated zeolite precursors. H ere we present data to corroborate its proposed structure. Sorption measure ments show that ITQ-2 no longer contains large 12-membered-ring (12MR) cavi ties typical for the non-delaminated MWW-type zeolite, and only retained th e 10-membered-ring (10MR) system inside the layer. Adsorption and high reso lution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) experiments confirm that d elamination allows the ITQ-2 layer to retain most of its structural integri ty. The catalytic properties of ITQ-2 are in agreement with those expected from an aluminosilicate that combines a large, catalytically active external su rface with the 10MR channel system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.