Formerly, the catalytic use of zeolites was exclusive to the field of acid catalysis. Nowadays, zeolites also find applications as catalysts in a wide array of chemical reactions such as; base catalyzed reactions, Redox reactions and catalytic reactions on transition metals and their complexes in confined environments. The concepts of Brønsted or Lewis acid-base pairs are adequately illustrated in the literature and well-understood in terms of structural and electronic properties of zeolites. By contrast, properties of chemically modified silicates, aluminosilicates and aluminophosphates have not yet been fully explored. The list of oxydo-reduction reactions performed in the presence of these new materials is growing as demonstrated by the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides or the numerous oxidations employing hydrogen peroxide. Much effort is currently being made to get a better insight into the nature of the sites involved. The zeolite lattice may also be used as a host for encapsulated complexes or metallic clusters allowing the control of nuclearity of these active species and the steric constraints imposed on the reactants. Molecular sieve and shape selectivity effects have also constituted fascinating aspects of zeolite properties. Recent developments leading to increasingly large pore sizes with VPI-5, cloverite and more recently mesoporous molecular sieves have broadened the spectrum of these applications. Indeed, larger and larger reactant and product molecules can be accommodated in these lattices. These new adsorbant/adsorbate systems create additional needs for experimental data and theoretical descriptions of transport properties, in particular of mono- and multi-components diffusion coefficients in the zeolite pore lattice.All these themes, representing the forefront and current trends in zeolite research, were discussed in the submitted papers to the symposium and are widely represented in the selected papers contained in this volume. A feature common to most of these contributions is the combined use of a variety of analytical techniques. Some of these techniques are at the frontier of the latest analytical developments such as multiple scattering EXAFS and bidimensional MAS-NMR.

Zeolites are the most frequently used industrial catalysts. Their applications range from oil refining, petrochemistry and the synthesis of special chemicals to environmental catalysis. Rapid progress in basic research and the development of new processes has resulted in the first Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA) School on Zeolites. Zeolites and Ordered Mesoporous Materials: Progress and Prospects reflects the programme of the first School on Zeolites, held in Prague on August 20-21, 2005. Readers gain insight into the synthesis of the ever-expanding spectrum of zeolites, zeotypes and ordered mesoporous materials including the use of zeolites and mesoporous materials as catalysts in organic conversions. These range from the fascinating ship-in-bottle systems via cascade reactions to bulk applications in oil-refining and petrochemistry. Contributions from world experts enhance the book, with select chapters on trends in the molecular sieves field, zeolite structures, ion-exchange properties of zeolites, advanced applications (with unique technologies and opportunities) and a chapter on natural zeolites.* Contains contributions from world experts in the field * Includes an account of the frontier topic of high-throughput techniques* Reviews the application of quantum-chemical methods to zeolite science to show the necessity of combining experimental and theoretical approaches

The porous structure of molecular sieves, combined with their chemical composition, makes them uniquely suitable for use as catalysts or catalytic supports. As such, the materials are used in a wide range of chemical reactions, and as components of formulated products. The shape selectivity of the materials further enhances their chemical usefulness, and exploitation of their unique absorption properties holds the key to improving their catalytic properties. To that end, great efforts are being made to find new of different molecular sieves, with altered or tailored structures or chemical composition. The synthesis and characterisation of molecular sieve materials is a considerable challenge, testing both the chemist's understanding and practical skills. In a thorough overhaul of the very successful first edition of this book, the author guides the reader in the basics of sieve structure, synthesis and characterisation, and points the way to the development of new or improved sieve materials. By covering both the principles and practical aspects of sieve synthesis and characterisation, professional chemists, particularly those involved in industrial research and development, will find this book an essential guide to the current state of the art, and a useful starting point in their own research. Academic chemists, including postgraduate students, will find this book an invaluable guide to this exciting and important area of chemistry.

More than seventeen years have passed now since Glauco Gottardi and Ermano Galli 1 have published their remarkable book on «NATURAL ZEOLITES» where properties and features of naturally occuring phases then available have been compiled. Several new natural zeolites have been found since then, but also natural counterparts ofzeolites which have only been known as synthesis products. The natural formation conditions of zeolites could only be deduced and estimated from their geological environment at the time when NATURAL ZEOLITES has been published, as zeolite synthesis was mainly focused on procedures at low pressures such as those introduced by Barrer and co workers'. Natural zeolites, however, had only been obtained "occasionally" and systematic study to reconstruct these formation conditions has not been performed ever since. This book is focused on the synthesis of natural zeolites by simulating the natural synthesis conditions in the laboratory which are essentially different in means and results from those obtained by conventional synthesis methods. Although the synthesis in the laboratory has undoubtly a great number of advantages over nature such as the employment of proper precursors or the choice of pressure and temperature in a wide range, the synthesis time is very limited in respect to natural conditions: synthesis times ofyears or even tens ofyears which would be necessary to obtain synthesis results for some zeolites- e.g. at 4°C (deep sea conditions) are rather unrealistic.

The proceedings of the 11th Zeolite Conference has been published in three volumes, containing 5 plenary lectures and 274 full papers. Part A comprises Synthesis and Characterization (99 papers), Part B Catalysis and Environment (102 papers) and Part C Adsorption and Diffusion, Modifications, Novel Materials and Theory (78 papers). Zeolite science and technology has been and continues to be an area receiving great attention. Increasing interest in the synthesis and the characterization of zeolite and microporous materials is reflected in the large number of contributions. Other areas gaining recognition include novel materials, adsorption, theory and modeling.

Authored by a top-level team of both academic and industrial researchers in the field, this is an up-to-date review of mesoporous zeolites. The leading experts cover novel preparation methods that allow for a purpose-oriented fine-tuning of zeolite properties, as well as the related materials, discussing the specific characterization methods and the applications in close relation to each individual preparation approach. The result is a self-contained treatment of the different classes of mesoporous zeolites. With its academic insights and practical relevance this is a comprehensive handbook for researchers in the field and related areas, as well as for developers from the chemical industry.

Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage of progress in the major areas of chemical research. Written by experts in their specialist fields the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, supplying regular critical in-depth accounts of progress in particular areas of chemistry. For over 80 years the Royal Society of Chemistry and its predecessor, the Chemical Society, have been publishing reports charting developments in chemistry, which originally took the form of Annual Reports. However, by 1967 the whole spectrum of chemistry could no longer be contained within one volume and the series Specialist Periodical Reports was born. The Annual Reports themselves still existed but were divided into two, and subsequently three, volumes covering Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. For more general coverage of the highlights in chemistry they remain a 'must'. Since that time the SPR series has altered according to the fluctuating degree of activity in various fields of chemistry. Some titles have remained unchanged, while others have altered their emphasis along with their titles; some have been combined under a new name whereas others have had to be discontinued. The current list of Specialist Periodical Reports can be seen on the inside flap of this volume.