Chapter 4: Zeolites in the 21st Century

Zeolites are of great interest because their ordered microporous structures combined with strong acid activity, capacity for selective sorption, thermal and chemical resistance, and other beneficial qualities proved very useful for practical applications with significant commercial impact. This chapter covers the history of zeolite research from when they were first recognized as aluminosilicate minerals about 250 years ago. Since about the 1940's they have been extensively studied and developed as diverse synthetic materials including aluminophosphates and other compositions. Also covered are novel classes of zeolites that have been more recently discovered, such as mesoporous single crystals, hierarchic materials and two-dimensional zeolites, which have extensively enlarged the area of zeolitic materials.