CIT-9: A Fault-Free Gmelinite Zeolite

A synthetic, fault-free gmelinite (GME) zeolite is prepared using a specific organic structure-directing agent (OSDA), cis-3,5-dimethylpiperidinium. The cis-isomers align in the main 12-membered ring (MR) channel of GME. Trans-isomer OSDA leads to the small-pore zeolite SSZ-39 with the OSDA in its cages. Data from N-2-physisorption and rotation electron diffraction provide evidence for the openness of the 12 MR channel in the GME 12x8x8 pore architecture and the absence of stacking faults, respectively. CIT-9 is hydrothermally stable when K+-exchanged, while in the absence of exchange, the material transforms into an aluminous AFI-zeolite. The process of this phase-change was followed by in situ variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction. CIT-9 has the highest Si/Al ratio reported for GME, and along with its good porosity, opens the possibility of using GME in a variety of applications including catalysis.