Formation and Properties of Losod,a New Sodium Zeolite

Losod, a new type of crystalline hydrated sodium aluminosilicate, Na₁₂Al₁₂Si₁₂O₄₈ · q H₂O, has been prepared from reaction mixtures containing bulky quaternary alkylammonium ions, particularly azonia-spiro4.4]nonane, besides sodium ions. Losod crystallizes from batches with a low sodium content (Na/Al ≤ 1 and Si/Al ≈? 1). The quaternary ammonium hydroxide primarily serves as a source of hydroxide ions and is not incorporated into the zeolite crystals. These bulky bases provide a useful means for controlling the alkalinity of the system independently of the concentration of the necessary cations built into the zeolite. The crystals of Losod are hexagonal (a = 12.91 and c = 10.54 Å) and the proposed framework structure shows a polytypic relationship to sodalite and cancrinite. Losod has reversible sorption and ion exchange properties typical of a small-pore zeolite and in essential agreement with the proposed structure.