Aluminophosphate molecular sieves: a new class of microporous crystalline inorganic solids

A novel class of crystalline, microporous, aluminophosphate phases has been discovered that represents the first family of framework oxide molecular sieves synthesized without silica. The new family of aluminophosphate materials (AlPO/sub 4/-n)/sup 3/ currently includes about 20, three-dimensional framework structures, of which at least 14 are microporous and 6 are two-dimensional layer-type materials. The aluminophosphate materials have interesting properties for potential use in adsorptive and catalytic applications, due to both their unique surface selectivity characteristics and novel structures.