Since the first works introducing the aluminum intercalated clay family in the early 1970s, interest in the synthesis of pillared interlayered clays has increased tremendously, especially research into the properties and applications of new synthesis methods. The need for solids that could be used as cracking catalysts with larger pores than zeolitic materials has spurred the synthesis of new porous materials from clays. Pillared Clays and Related Catalysts reviews the properties and applications of pillared clays and other layered materials used as catalysts, focusing on: the acidity of pillared clays and the effect it has on catalytic performance the use of pillared clays as supports for catalytically active phases, and the use of the resulting solids in environmentally friendly reactions the applications of the selective reduction of NOx the comparison between the reactions of pillared clays and anionic clays.

The book provides insight into the working of clays and clay minerals in speeding up a variety of organic reactions. Clay minerals are known to have a large propensity for taking up organic molecules and can catalyse numerous organic reactions due to fine particle size, extensive surface area, layer structure, and peculiar charge characteristics. They can be used as heterogeneous catalysts and catalyst carriers of organic reactions because they are non-corrosive, easy to separate from the reaction mixture, and reusable. Clays and clay minerals have an advantage over other solid acids as they are abundant, inexpensive, and non-polluting.

Catalysis by solid acids, which includes (modified) zeolites, is of special relevance to energy applications. Acid catalysis is highly important in modern petroleum refining operations - large-scale processes such as fluid catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, alkylation and olefin oligomerization rely on the transformation of hydrocarbons by acid catalysts. (Modified) zeolites are therefore essential for the improvement of existing processes and for technical innovations in the conversion of crude. There can be little doubt that zeolite-based catalysts will play a major role in the future management of fossil fuels and biomass, and this book is intended to contribute to tomorrow's achievements in this area.Each chapter presents the personal views of an expert, or a small group of experts, on the current state of the art, and on the trends in his/their field likely to lead to important developments. The presentation of these various keynotes in one volume will provide inspiration to the reader interested in the development of zeolite-based catalysts for energy applications, and in particular will suggest to the new-comer in the field of catalyst design, methods to develop his own original orientations.

In the last annual reports, we reported Cu-exchanged pillared clays as superior selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts. During the past year we explored the possibilities with MCM-41, a new class of molecular sieve. In this report, Rh exchanged Al-MCM-41 is studied for the SCR of NO by C[sub 3]H[sub 6] in the presence of excess oxygen. It shows a high activity in converting NO to N[sub 2] and N[sub 2]O at low temperatures. In situ FT-IR studies indicate that Rh-NO[sup+] species (1910-1898 cm[sup[minus]1]) is formed on the Rh-Al-MCM-41 catalyst in flowing NO/He, NO+O[sub 2]/He and NO+C[sub 3]H[sub 6]+O[sub 2]/He at 100-350 C. This species is quite active in reacting with propylene and/or propylene adspecies (e.g., [pi]-C[sub 3]H[sub 5], polyene, etc.) at 250 C in the presence/absence of oxygen, leading to the formation of the isocyanate species (Rh-NCO, at 2174 cm[sup[minus]1]), CO and CO[sub 2]. Rh-NCO is also detected under reaction conditions. A possible reaction pathway for reduction of NO by C[sub 3]H[sub 6] is proposed. In the SCR reaction, Rh-NO[sup+] and propylene adspecies react to generate the Rh-NCO species, then Rh-NCO reacts with O[sub 2], NO and NO[sub 2] to produce N[sub 2], N[sub 2]O and CO[sub 2]. Rh-NO[sup+] and Rh-NCO species are two main intermediates for the SCR reaction on Rh-Al-MCM-41 catalyst.