Hierarchical ordered crystalline microporous material with long-range mesoporous order having cubic symmetry

Abstract

A composition is provided that includes a hierarchical ordered crystalline microporous material having a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order. The composition possesses mesopores having the walls of the crystalline microporous material and a group of mesostructures between the mesopores of the crystalline microporous material. The long-range order is defined by the presence of secondary peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and / or cubic symmetry observable by microscopy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to hierarchical ordered crystalline microporous materials.

Background Art

[0002] Zeolites are microporous aluminosilicate materials that possess a defined structure and uniform pore diameters that can be measured in nanometers or angstroms (Å) (pores are typically up to about 20 Å maximum). Typically, zeolites contain framework atoms such as silicon, aluminum, and oxygen arranged as silica and alumina tetrahedra. Zeolites are generally hydrated aluminosilicates that can be made or selected by their controlled porosity and other properties, and typically contain cations, water, and / or other molecules located in the porous network. Hundreds of natural and synthetic zeolite frameworks exist in a wide range of applications. Many zeolites occur naturally and are mined extensively, while a large body of interdependent research has led to synthetic zeolites of a rich variety of structures and compositions. The unique properties of zeolites and the ability to tailor them for specific applications have led to the widespread use of zeolites in industry as catalysts (e.g., for hydrocarbon cracking or as components in catalytic converters), molecular sieves, adsorbents (e.g., desiccants), ion-exchange materials (e.g., water softeners), and for gas separation. Certain types of zeolites have found use in various processes in petroleum refining units and in many other applications. The pores of zeolites can form sites for catalytic reactions and can also form channels that are selective for the passage of certain compounds and / or isomers over others. Zeolites can also possess acidity levels that enhance their effectiveness as catalyst materials or adsorbents, either alone or by addition of active components. Only one of the hundreds of types of zeolites elucidated by the International Zeolite Association (IZA) will be described below. Many of these properties and uses are well known.

[0003] Zeolite Y (also known as Na-Y zeolite or faujasite-type zeolite) is a well-known material whose zeolite has properties of ion exchange, catalysis, and adsorption. Zeolite Y is also a useful starting material for generating other zeolites such as ultrastable y-type zeolite (USY). Like typical zeolites, faujasite is synthesized from alumina and silica sources, dissolved in a basic aqueous solution, and crystallized. Faujasite zeolite has a framework designated as FAU by the IZA and is formed by a 12-ring structure made of supercages with a pore opening diameter of about 7.4 angstroms (Å) and sodalite cages with a pore opening diameter of about 2.3 Å. Faujasite zeolite is characterized by a three-dimensional pore structure with pores running perpendicular to each other in the x, y, and z planes. The secondary building units can be positioned at 4, 6, 6-2, 4-2, 1-4-4, or 6-6. The exemplary range of the silica-to-alumina ratio (SAR) for faujasite zeolite is from about 2 to about 6, and typically has unit cells (unit a, b, and c) in the range of about 24.5 to 24.85 Å. Faujasite zeolite is typically regarded as X-type when the SAR is about 2-3 and Y-type when the SAR is greater than about 3, for example, about 3-6. Typically, faujasite is in the sodium form and can be ion-exchanged with ammonium, and the ammonium form can be calcined to convert the zeolite to its proton form.

[0004] While zeolites have found great utility in their ability to select between small molecules and various cations, mesoporous solids (pores between about 20 and 500 Å) offer potential for applications involving chemical species that are up to an order of magnitude larger in size, such as nanoparticles and enzymes. The relatively bulky nature of such chemical species hinders diffusion through the microporous zeolite network, and thus, a larger porous system is required to effectively perform a similar molecular sieving action for larger chemical species.

[0005] Mesoporous silica is amorphous; however, it has pores with a periodically arranged pore structure and long-range order with a uniform pore diameter at the mesoscale. Mesoporous silica provides a high surface area and can be used as a host material to introduce additional functionality for a wide range of applications such as adsorption, separation, catalysis, drug delivery, and energy conversion and storage.

[0006] An attractive property of ordered structures is that their architecture can be described in terms of their symmetry. A well-defined crystal is associated with a well-defined arrangement of sub-units that make up the crystal, and thus the symmetry of the crystal is related to the symmetry of the sub-units. For example, seven distinct three-dimensional crystal units are presented in Table 1. Crystal systems can be subdivided on the basis of the symmetry elements present, which are collectively called point groups and presented in Table 2. For example, 3m implies the presence of a mirror plane with a three-fold axis of rotation. In the 3 / m (or 6) class, the mirror plane is perpendicular to the three-fold axis of rotation. In two-dimensional spaces such as lamellar systems with fewer dimensions than 3D, there are four crystal systems: hexagonal, square, rectangular, and orthorhombic.

[0007] The defined microporous structure of zeolites provides a blend of important physicochemical functionalities that are highly desirable in various industrial practices. Their molecular-sized pore channels, embedded with adjustable acid / base sites, can geometrically discriminate the entry of guest species and govern shape-selective transformations. Such remarkable properties uniquely exhibited by zeolites demonstrate unprecedented importance in numerous chemical technologies, including but not limited to petroleum refining, detergents, and wastewater reduction, which deeply impact the world economy and environment. However, the performance of zeolites is often hampered as a result of their insufficient mass transfer induced by configurational diffusion within narrow micropores. Therefore, alleviating the substantial mass transfer limitations is crucial for exploring the maximum potential of zeolites in diverse energy economies and thereby enhancing the accessibility to internal functional sites. Another drawback of microporous zeolites as catalysts in certain reactions is their susceptibility to coking, which can lead to accelerated catalyst deactivation and product selectivity.

[0008] In this regard, hierarchically ordered zeolites (HOZ) possessing an ordered mesoporous structure and zeolite mesoporous walls are of great technical importance due to their exceptional properties. HOZ contain various layers of porosity, namely mesopores and micropores. Hierarchically ordered zeolites offer advantages over traditional microporous zeolites by, for example, improving the diffusion of guest species to active sites, overcoming steric limitations, improving product selectivity, reducing coke formation, improving hydrothermal stability, and improving the accessibility of Brønsted acid sites and Lewis acid sites; while at the same time providing improved catalyst performance.

[0009] Numerous synthetic strategies for generating hierarchical zeolites are known and fall into two general categories: bottom-up approaches that involve the use of hard templates and soft templates, and top-down approaches that typically involve post-synthetic treatment. Bottom-up strategies generally involve template formation techniques that are used in situ during zeolite crystallization, for example using a hard template (carbon source) or a soft template (surfactant). Top-down strategies generally involve post-synthetic modification of already formed zeolite crystals, for example by steam formation, dealumination (using an acid), or desilication (using a base). The weakness of known processes for generating hierarchically ordered zeolites is that the long-range ordering of the mesophase in the resulting zeolites is limited or absent, and the mesopores can be random in size, location, and ordering.

[0010] Base-mediated dealumination provides a direct route to creating mesoporosity with high-silica frameworks obtained from steam formation (see, e.g., Verboekend, D., Milina, M., Mitchell, S. & Perez-Ramirez, J. Hierarchical Zeolites by Desilication: Occurrence and Catalytic Impact of Recrystallization and Restructuring. Crys. Growth Des. 13, 5025~(2013)). In particular, integrating organic templates during the dealumination process significantly improves crystallinity and mesoporosity (see, e.g., Garcia-Martinez, J., Johnson, M., Valla, J., Li, K. & Ying, J. Y. Mesostructured Zeolite Y - High Hydrothermal Stability and Superior FCC Catalytic Performance. Catal. Sci. Tech. 2, 987 (2012); Mendoza-Castro, M. J., Serrano, E., Linares, N. & Garcia-Martinez, J. Surfactant-Templated Zeolites: From Thermodynamics to Direct Observation. Adv. Mater. Interfaces 8, 2001388 (2020)). However, such post-synthesis modification strategies typically lack control over dissociation and self-assembly processes, resulting in poorly interconnected mesopores (see, e.g., Schwieger, W. et al., Hierarchy Concepts: Classification and Preparation Strategies for Zeolite Containing Materials with Hierarchical Porosity. Chem. Soc. Rev. 45, 3353~3376, doi:10.1039 / c5cs00599j (2016)).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document

[0012]

Non-Patent Document 1

Non-Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Document 3

Non-Patent Document 4

[0013] In view of the conventional attempts to generate hierarchically ordered zeolites, hierarchically ordered zeolites are still in demand in the art. Regarding these and other problems in the art, the present disclosure aims to provide a technical solution regarding a composition of hierarchically ordered zeolites having defined long-range mesoporous ordering with cubic symmetry. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0014] Compositions are provided that include a crystalline microporous material, such as a hierarchically ordered zeolite or zeotype material. These hierarchically ordered crystalline mesoporous materials have a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order that includes a group of mesostructures between the mesopores having walls composed of the crystalline microporous material and the mesopores composed of the crystalline microporous material. The long-range order is defined by the presence of secondary peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and / or the presence of cubic symmetry observable by microscopy.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the composition includes a hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material having a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order that includes a group of mesostructures between the mesopores having walls composed of the crystalline microporous material and the mesopores of the crystalline microporous material. At least a portion of the mesopores contain micelles of a supramolecular template that is shaped to induce a cubic-symmetric mesoporous order. The supramolecular template has one or more dimensions larger than the dimensions of the micropores of the crystalline microporous material so as to limit diffusion into the micropores of the crystalline microporous material, and this dimension is related to the head group of the supramolecular template, the tail group of the supramolecular template, or a co-template arrangement configuration that limits diffusion into the micropores of the crystalline microporous material. In certain embodiments, an ionic cosolute is present in the hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material; in certain embodiments, the ionic cosolute includes NO3 - . In certain embodiments, the supramolecular template is characterized by a surfactant packing parameter g in the range of about 0.4 to 0.8, where g = V / a0l, where V is the total volume of the surfactant tails of the supramolecular template, a0 is the area of the head group of the supramolecular template, and l is the length of the surfactant tails of the supramolecular template. In certain embodiments, the molar ratio of the supramolecular template to the cosolute is in the range of about 0.8 to 1.3.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the cubic mesophase has Ia-3d, Fm-3m, Pm-3n, Pn-3m, or Im-3m symmetry. In certain embodiments, the cubic mesophase has Ia-3d symmetry, and the secondary peaks in XRD are present in one or more of the (220), (321), (400), (420), or (332) reflections. In certain embodiments, the cubic mesophase has Ia-3d symmetry, and the long-range order is observable by microscopy looking at an electron beam along the

[0311] ,

[0111] , or

[0110] zone axis. In certain embodiments, the cubic mesophase has Fm-3m symmetry, and the long-range order is observable by microscopy looking at an electron beam along the

[0001] or

[0110] zone axis.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the parent crystalline microporous material comprises a zeolite or zeolite-type material. For example, the parent crystalline microporous material is a zeolite having a framework selected from the group consisting of AEI, *BEA, CHA, FAU, MFI, MOR, LTL, LTA, and MWW. In certain embodiments, the parent crystalline microporous material is a zeolite having a FAU framework.

[0018] In certain embodiments, there is provided a hydrocracking catalyst comprising the hierarchical zeolite described herein, an inorganic oxide as a binder, and an active metal component. For example, the hierarchical ordered crystalline microporous material comprises the hydrocracking catalyst in an amount of about 0.1-99, 0.1-90, 0.1-80, 0.1-70, 0.1-50, 0.1-40, 2-99, 2-90, 2-80, 2-70, 2-50, 2-40, 20-100, 20-90, 20-80, 20-70, 20-50, or 20-40 mass %. The inorganic oxide component is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, silica-alumina, alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina, silica-alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina-silica, silica-alumina-titania, silica-alumina-zirconia, alumina-zirconia-titania, phosphorus-alumina-zirconia, alumina-zirconia-titania, and phosphorus-alumina-titania. In certain embodiments, the inorganic oxide component comprises alumina. In certain embodiments, the zeolite comprises a FAU zeolite. In certain embodiments, the active metal component comprises one or more of Mo, W, Co, or Ni (oxide or sulfide). The active metal component comprises one or more metals selected from Groups 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of the IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements.

[0019] In certain embodiments, there is provided a method for hydrocracking hydrocarbon oil, comprising the step of hydrocracking hydrocarbon oil with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising the hierarchical zeolite described herein. In certain embodiments, the hydrocarbon oil comprises a recycle stream obtained from the hydrocracking of VGO, straight-run VGO, or pretreated straight-run VGO, based on the selectivity to naphtha and middle distillate adjusted as a function of the cubic symmetric mesophase.

[0020] Any combination of the various embodiments and examples disclosed herein can be used. These and other aspects and features can be understood from the following description of certain embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

[0021] The method of the present disclosure will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Compositions are provided that include a hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material (“CMM”). These hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous materials (“HOCMM”) have a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order that includes mesopores having a group of mesostructures between the walls of the crystalline microporous material and the mesopores of the CMM. The long-range ordering is defined by the presence of secondary peaks in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and / or the presence of cubic symmetry observable by microscopy. In certain embodiments, for example, prior to calcination of the synthesized HOCMM, at least a portion of the mesopores contain micelles of a supramolecular template that is shaped to induce a cubic-symmetric mesoporous order, and the supramolecular template has one or more dimensions that are larger than the dimensions of the micropores of the crystalline microporous material so as to limit diffusion into the micropores of the crystalline microporous material. The dimensions relate to the head group of the supramolecular template, the tail group of the supramolecular template, or the co-template arrangement configuration that limits diffusion into the micropores of the CMM. The HOCMM is synthesized by using base-mediated reassembly, by decomposition of the parent CMM to the level of the structural building units that are oligomers of the parent CMM, and by minimizing or avoiding amorphization / structural collapse. The CMM decomposition and self-assembly are comprehensively controlled to produce the HOCMM by the methods herein having a cubic-symmetric mesoporous order, including embodiments using ionic cosolutes. Methods for obtaining the compositions, including those disclosed herein, are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 857,671, filed July 5, 2022, and U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 151,782, filed January 9, 2023, both of which are commonly assigned and both of which are entitled “Methods for Synthesis of Hierarchically Ordered Crystalline Microporous Materials with Long-Range Mesoporous Order” and both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0024] In certain embodiments of the reassembly for generating the compositions of the present specification: the rate and extent of CMM degradation are controlled by using urea as a base in situ and by mediating the hot water temperature to control the hydrolysis of urea and finely adjust the pH of the solution; the extent of degradation into smaller oligomers is controlled by surfactant-CMM interactions during the initial stages of degradation, whereby the influence of ion-specific interactions, i.e., the anionic Hofmeister effect (AHE) on supramolecular self-assembly, governs the formation of a hierarchical ordered structure with a bicontinuous gyroidal cubic mesopore symmetry; in certain embodiments, the hierarchical ordered structure possesses a bicontinuous gyroidal cubic Ia-3s mesopore symmetry.

[0025] According to an embodiment of a method for generating the composition of the present specification, the parent CMM is formed in an aqueous suspension by an alkaline reagent and a supramolecular templating agent. In an additional embodiment, the aqueous suspension contains an ionic co-solute as an additional anion separated from the anion that pairs with the cation of the supramolecular template. The system is maintained under conditions that induce cleavage of the parent CMM to oligomeric units of the CMM with very few monomer units and induce hierarchical reassembly of the oligomeric units into a mesostructure. The conditions of the system (including the temperature and time of crystallization), the selection and concentration of the supramolecular template, and the selection and concentration of the alkaline reagent are adjusted to control the cleavage of the parent CMM to oligomeric units and the reassembly of those oligomeric units around the shape of the supramolecular template micelle. The degradation of the parent CMM is promoted to the extent of oligomer formation while minimizing monomer formation, which is controlled by the selection of the supramolecular template, the alkaline reagent, the ionic co-solute if necessary, and the hydrothermal conditions (including temperature and time). In certain embodiments, a substantial, significant, or majority portion of the parent CMM is cleaved into oligomeric units, and any remainder thereof takes the form of monomer units or atomic constituents of the CMM. In certain embodiments, the dimensions of the oligomeric units approximately correspond to the synthesized mesoporous structure and the wall thickness of the HOCMM. In certain embodiments, the interfacial curvature of the micelles and oligomeric units under reassembly is adjusted to the desired mesostructure and mesoporosity with the aid of the ionic co-solute and the Hofmeister effect if necessary.

[0026] Under effective crystallization conditions and times, and using effective types of supramolecular templates and alkaline reagents at effective relative concentrations, hierarchical ordering by the ensemble occurs after synthesis: the parent CMM is clipped into oligomeric CMM units that are repositioned around the shaped micelles formed by the supramolecular template. Hierarchically ordered CMMs with defined long-range mesoporous order are formed by supramolecular templating methods using surfactant micelles. The mesoporous walls are characterized by the parent CMM. Effective supramolecular templates include those having one or more properties that form dimensions that block all, a substantial portion, a significant portion, or most of the supramolecular template molecules from entering the pores, channels, and / or cavities of the parent CMM. These methods disclosed herein cause base-mediated cleavage of the CMM crystals into oligomeric components in the presence of supramolecular templates of the type / characteristics disclosed herein, and then reorganize around defined micelles by supramolecular templating to form a hierarchically ordered structure with defined long-range mesoporous order in 3D-cubic symmetry.

[0027] The curvature or shape of the micelles results in the final 3D-cubic mesophase symmetry. The formation of micelles from supramolecular template molecules depends on factors such as the type of supramolecular template, the concentration of the supramolecular template, the presence or absence of ionic co-solutes, the type of CMM, the crystallization temperature, the type of alkaline reagent, the concentration of the alkaline reagent, the pH level of the system, and / or the presence or absence of other reagents. Generally, at low concentrations, the supramolecular template exists as individual entities. At higher concentrations, i.e., above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), micelles are formed. Hydrophobic interactions in a system containing a supramolecular template can change the packing shape of the supramolecular template, for example, into spherical, oblate, or cylindrical micelles, and then form a thermodynamically stable two-dimensional or three-dimensional liquid crystal phase of an ordered mesostructure (see, for example, Figure 1.4 in Zana, R. (ed.) (2005), Dynamics of Surfactant Self-Assemblies: Micelles, Microemulsions, Vesicles and Lyotropic Phases (1st ed.). CRC Press, Chapter 1, showing surfactant-based self-organization and surfactant packing parameters).

[0028] In certain embodiments, the Hofmeister series (HS), ion-specific effects, or lyotropic series are followed for the selection of supramolecular templates and / or ionic cosolutes that control the curvature or shape of the micelles (e.g., spheres, ellipsoids, cylinders, or single lamellar structures) (see, e.g., Beibei Kang, Huicheng Tang, Zengdian Zhao, and Shasha Song. “Hofmeister Series: Insights of Ion Specificity from Amphiphilic Assembly and Interface Property” ACS Omega 5 (2020): 6229–6239). In embodiments of the methods for synthesizing hierarchical ordered microporous crystalline materials having defined long-range mesoporous order disclosed herein, the mesophase transition of the hierarchical ensemble results in distinct mesostructures based on the anionic Hofmeister effect and supramolecular self-assembly. Anions of various sizes and charges carry various polarizabilities, charge densities, and hydration energies in aqueous solutions. When paired with the positive supramolecular template headgroups, these properties can affect the short-range electrostatic repulsion within the headgroups and the hydration at the micelle interface, and thus change the headgroup area (a0). Such ion-specific interactions can be the driving force in the change of micelle curvature and the induction of the mesophase transition. HS (SO4 2- > HPO4 2- > OAc - > Cl - > Br - > NO3 - > ClO4 - > SCN -) Based on this, strongly hydrated ions (left side of HS) can increase the micelle curvature, while weakly hydrated ions can decrease the micelle curvature. The surfactant packing parameter, g = V / a0l (V = total volume of the surfactant tail, a0 = area of the head group, l = length of the surfactant tail), can be used to describe these mesophase transitions. In the embodiments of this specification, a hierarchical ordered structure having a 3D-cubic symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order is formed by selecting a supramolecular template and an ionic cosolute.

[0029] In the method for synthesizing a hierarchical ordered CMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order disclosed herein, the appropriate alkaline reagent contains one or more basic compounds to maintain the system at a pH level greater than about 8. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent is provided at a concentration in an aqueous suspension of about 0.1 - 2.0 M. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent is provided at a concentration in an aqueous suspension of about 0.1 - 5 wt%. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent contains urea. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent contains ammonia. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent contains ammonium hydroxide. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent contains sodium hydroxide. In certain embodiments, the alkaline reagent contains an alkali metal hydroxide containing the hydroxide of sodium, lithium, potassium, rubidium, or cesium.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the alkali reagent is effective to enable controlled hydrolysis; for example, urea can be used as an alkali agent, and during hydrolysis, urea reacts to form ammonium hydroxide. For example, a higher urea concentration can be used in the initial step, and the basicity can be maintained by the stepwise hydrolysis of urea. In such embodiments, the pH increases relatively slowly to the maximum pH as a function of time rather than adding some amount of another alkali reagent such as ammonium hydroxide to the initial solution towards the maximum pH, which is beneficial to the process. Different from conventional bases that act quickly, urea has a neutral pH under ambient conditions and can be uniformly dispersed throughout the zeolite micropores without affecting them.

[0031] In certain embodiments, the alkali reagent contains an alkylammonium cation having the general formula R X H 4-X N + [A - , where X = 1 to 4, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same or various C1 - C30 alkyl groups, and [A - is an anionic counterion that can be OH - , Br - , Cl - , or I - . In certain embodiments, the alkali reagent contains a quaternary ammonium cation having an alkoxysilyl group, a phosphonium group, an alkyl group, an alkyl group with a bulkier substituent, or an alkoxyl group with a bulkier substituent. In certain embodiments, the alkylammonium cation used in this regard functions as a base rather than a surfactant or a template.

[0032] In certain embodiments using ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, or an alkali metal hydroxide, amorphous material is also present in the product along with crystalline material. In certain embodiments, calcining the as-made HOCMM reduces the amount of apparent amorphous material present (e.g., a broad band overall at 25° (2θ) in XRD), which indicates an apparent “self-healing” after calcination. In certain embodiments, when directly compared to alternative routes such as NaOH or ammonium hydroxide, controlled hydrolysis from urea to ammonium hydroxide reduces the amount of apparent amorphous material present in the HOCMM (e.g., a broad band overall at 25° (2θ) in XRD).

[0033] In a method for synthesizing a hierarchical ordered CMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order disclosed herein, a suitable surfactant as a supramolecular template is provided to assist in the reassembly and recrystallization of the decomposition components (oligomers) by sharing and / or electronic valence interactions. The supramolecular template is provided at a concentration in an aqueous suspension of about 0.01 to 0.5 M. In certain embodiments, a suitable supramolecular template is provided at a concentration in an aqueous suspension of about 0.5 to 10 wt%. A suitable supramolecular template is characterized by restricted diffusion in the microporous channels of the parent CMM, called a bulk surfactant or a bulk supramolecular template. The diffusion of the supramolecular template molecules into the microporous-channels or cavities promotes CMM decomposition. This is minimized in the top-down method for synthesizing a hierarchical ordered CMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order disclosed herein, and its effective supramolecular template minimizes diffusion or partial diffusion into the CMM pore-channels, cavities, or window openings. Such a supramolecular template has dimensions suitable for blocking such diffusion. Suitable dimensions can be based on the dimensions of the head group and / or tail group of the supramolecular template. In certain embodiments, suitable dimensions can be based on a co-template having one or more components with stable head and / or tail groups, or can be a template system arranged and configured in such a way as to minimize or block diffusion into the CMM pore-channels, cavities, or window openings. By minimizing the diffusion of the template into the CMM pore channels, CMM decomposition into oligomers, as well as the comprehensive reorganization and assembly into a hierarchical ordered CMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order disclosed herein, is promoted. In certain embodiments, the supramolecular template is such that at least a substantial portion, a significant portion, or a majority of the surfactant does not enter into the pores and / or channels of the CMM. For example, an organosilane (about 0.7 nm) is relatively large compared to a quaternary ammonium surfactant having no such bulk group, including cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (about 0.25 nm).In certain embodiments, the supramolecular template contains a long-chain linear group (> about 0.6 nm). In certain embodiments, the supramolecular template contains an aromatic or aromatic derivative group (> about 0.6 nm). In certain embodiments, the supramolecular template contains one or more bulk-like groups having dimensions based on modeling the molecular dimensions as a rectangular parallelepiped having dimensions A, B, and C using the van der Waals radius for each individual atom, wherein one or more, two or more, or all three of the dimensions A, B, and C are such that the dimensions are close enough or large enough to limit diffusion into the selected parent CMM micropores.

[0034] In certain embodiments, surfactants effective as supramolecular templates contain at least one moiety as a head group or a tail group selected from the group consisting of organosilanes, hydroxysilyls, alkoxysilyls, aromatics, branched alkyls, sulfonates, carboxylates, phosphates, and combinations containing one of the foregoing moieties. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template is an organosilane containing at least one hydroxysilyl as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template is an organosilane containing at least one hydroxysilyl as a tail group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template is an organosilane containing at least one alkoxysilyl as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template is an organosilane containing at least one alkoxysilyl as a tail group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one aromatic as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one aromatic as a tail group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one branched alkyl as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one branched alkyl as a tail group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one sulfonate as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one sulfonate as a tail group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one carboxylate as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one carboxylate as a tail group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one phosphate as a head group moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one phosphate as a tail group moiety. These moieties are characterized by one or more dimensions that limit diffusion into the pores of the parent CMM.In certain embodiments, where the CMM features pores of various dimensions, the selected portion features one or more dimensions that limit diffusion into the largest pores of the parent CMM.

[0035] In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one cationic moiety. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one cationic moiety selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium moieties and phosphonium moieties. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one quaternary ammonium group having a terminal alkyl group with 6 to 24 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains two quaternary ammonium groups, and the alkyl group bridging the quaternary ammonium groups contains 1 to 10 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one constituent moiety, the head group moiety described above. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one constituent moiety, the tail group moiety described above. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one quaternary ammonium group, at least one constituent moiety, the head group moiety described above, and an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms that bridges at least one of the at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one of the head groups. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains at least one quaternary ammonium group, at least one constituent moiety, the tail moiety described above, and an alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms that bridges at least one of the at least one quaternary ammonium group and at least one of the tail groups.

[0036] In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a quaternary ammonium compound and a structural group comprising one or more bulky organic silanes or alkoxysilyl substituents. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a quaternary ammonium compound and a structural group comprising one or more long-chain organic silanes or alkoxysilyl substituents. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template cation comprises dimethyloctadecyl(3-trimethoxysilyl-propyl)-ammonium, or a derivative of dimethyloctadecyl(3-trimethoxysilyl-propyl)-ammonium. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template cation comprises dimethylhexadecyl(3-trimethoxysilyl-propyl)-ammonium, or a derivative of dimethylhexadecyl(3-trimethoxysilyl-propyl)-ammonium. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template cation comprises a double-acryloxy amphiphilic organic silane, such as [2,3-bis(dodecanoyloxy)-propyl](3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-dimethylammonium, or a derivative of [2,3-bis(dodecanoyloxy)-propyl](3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-dimethylammonium.

[0037] In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a quaternary phosphonium compound and a structural group comprising one or more bulky aromatic substituents. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a quaternary phosphonium compound and a structural group comprising one or more bulky alkoxysilyl or organic silane substituents.

[0038] In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains a tail group portion selected from the group consisting of an aromatic group containing 6 to 50, 6 to 25, 10 to 50, or 10 to 25 carbon atoms, an alkyl group containing 1 to 50, 1 to 25, 5 to 50, 5 to 25, 10 to 50, or 10 to 25 carbon atoms, an aryl group containing 1 to 50, 1 to 25, 5 to 50, 5 to 25, 10 to 50, or 10 to 25 carbon atoms, or a combination of aromatic and alkyl groups having up to 50 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains a head group portion selected from the group consisting of an aromatic group containing 6 to 50, 6 to 25, 10 to 50, or 10 to 25 carbon atoms, an alkyl group containing 1 to 50, 1 to 25, 5 to 50, 5 to 25, 10 to 50, or 10 to 25 carbon atoms, an aryl group containing 1 to 50, 1 to 25, 5 to 50, 5 to 25, 10 to 50, or 10 to 25 carbon atoms, or a combination of aromatic and alkyl groups having up to 50 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template contains a co-templating agent selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium compounds (e.g., including quaternary alkylammonium cation species) and quaternary phosphonium compounds.

[0039] In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises: (a) at least one of an aromatic quaternary ammonium compound, a branched alkyl chain quaternary ammonium compound, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, an alkylbenzene phosphonate, an alkylbenzene carboxylate, or a substituted phosphonium cation; and (b1) a structural group containing at least one of an organosilane, a hydroxysilyl, an alkoxysilyl, an aromatic, a branched alkyl, a sulfonate, a carboxylate, or a phosphate as a head group; or (b2) a structural group containing at least one of an organosilane, a hydroxysilyl, an alkoxysilyl, an aromatic, a branched alkyl, a sulfonate, a carboxylate, or a phosphate as a tail group. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a sulfonate group (non-limiting examples include sulfonated bis(2-hydroxy-5-dodecylphenyl)methane (SBHDM)). In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a carboxylate group (non-limiting example is sodium 4-(octyloxy)benzoate). In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises a phosphonate group (non-limiting example is tetradecyl(1,4-benzene)bisphosphonate). In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises an aromatic group (non-limiting example is cetyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride). In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises an aliphatic group (non-limiting example is tetraoctylammonium chloride).

[0040] The supramolecular template is provided as a cation / anion pair. In certain embodiments, the cation of the supramolecular template is as described above, and pairs with a selected anion such as Cl - 、Br - 、OH - 、F - 、and I - 、etc. In certain embodiments, the cation of the supramolecular template is as described above, and Cl - 、Br - 、or OH -It pairs with anions such as. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride (commonly abbreviated as "TPOAC"), or a derivative of dimethyloctadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises dimethylhexadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride, or a derivative of dimethylhexadecyl[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ammonium chloride. In certain embodiments, an effective supramolecular template comprises [2,3-bis(dodecanoyloxy)-propyl](3-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-dimethylammonium iodide, or a derivative of [2,3-bis(dodecanoyloxy)-propyl](3-(trimethoxysilylpropyl)-dimethylammonium iodide).

[0041] In certain embodiments, the system comprises an effective amount of an ionic cosolute (i.e., in addition to the anions paired with the supramolecular template). In certain embodiments where an ionic cosolute is used, it is provided at a concentration in the aqueous suspension of about 0.01 - 0.5 M. In certain embodiments where an ionic cosolute is used, it is provided at a concentration in the aqueous suspension of about 0.01 - 5 wt%. In certain embodiments, the ionic cosolute is selected from the group consisting of CO3 2- SO4 2- S2O3 2- H2PO4 - F - Cl - Br - NO3 - I - ClO4 - SCN - and C6H5O8 -3 (citrate). In certain embodiments, the ionic cosolute is selected based on the Hofmeister series / lyotropic series to control the curvature / shape of the micelles to provide the desired cubic mesophase symmetry. In certain embodiments, nitrate (NO3 -) is an ionic cosolute selected based on the Hofmeister series / lyotropic series to control the curvature / shape of the micelles so as to result in a hierarchical ordered CMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order and possessing cubic meso symmetry; in certain embodiments where nitrate is used as the ionic cosolute, nitrates such as ammonium nitrate or metal nitrates may be used, and this metal can be an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, transition metal, noble metal, or rare earth metal.

[0042] The present disclosure is applicable to various types of CMMs as parent materials, including zeolites or zeolite-type materials. In certain embodiments, the parent CMM exhibits both good crystallinity and Al distribution in order to obtain high-quality HOCMM while maintaining composite phases and / or impurities.

[0043] Zeolite materials suitable as parent CMMs are the identifiers ABW, ACO, AEI, AEL, AEN, AET, AFG, AFI, AFN, AFO, AFR, AFS, AFT, AFV, AFX, AFY, AHT, ANA, ANO, APC, APD, AST, ASV, ATN, ATO, ATS, ATT, ATV, AVE, AVL, AWO, AWW, BCT, BEC, BIK, BOF, BOG, BOZ, BPH, BRE, BSV, CAN, CAS, CDO, CFI, CGF, CGS, CHA, -CHI, -CLO, CON, CSV, CZP, DAC, DDR, DFO, DFT, DOH, DON, EAB, EDI, EEI, EMT, EON, EPI, ERI, ESV, ETL, ETR, ETV, EUO, EWO, EWS, EZT, FAR, FAU, FER, FRA, GIS, GIU, GME, GON, GOO, HEU, IFO, IFR, -IFT, -IFU, IFW, IFY, IHW, IMF, IRN, IRR, -IRY, ISV, ITE, ITG, ITH, ITR, ITT, -ITV, ITW, IWR, IWS, IWV, IWW, JBW, JNT, JOZ, JRY, JSN, JSR, JST, JSW, KFI, LAU, LEV, LIO, -LIT, LOS, LOV, LTA, LTF, LTJ, LTL, LTN, MAR, MAZ, MEI, MEL, MEP, MER, MFI, MFS, MON, MOR, MOZ, MRT, MSE, MSO, MTF, MTN, MTT, MTW, MVY, MWF, MWW, NAB, NAT, NES, NON, NPO, NPT, NSI, OBW, OFF, OKO, OSI, OSO, OWE, -PAR, PAU, PCR, PHI, PON, POR, POS, PSI, PTO, PTT, PTY, PUN, PWN, PWO, PWW, RHO, -RON, RRO, RSN, RTE, RTH, RUT, RWR, RWY, SAF, SAO, SAS, SAT, SAV, SBE, SBN, SBS, SBT, SEW, SFE, SFF, SFG, SFH, SFN, SFO, SFS, SFW, SGT, SIV, SOD, SOF, SOR, SOS, SOV, SSF, SSY, STF, STI, STT, STW, -SVR, SVV, SWY, -SYT, SZR, TER, THO, TOL, TON, TSC, TUN, UEI, UFI, UOS, UOV, UOZ, USI, UTL, UWY, VET, VFI, VNI, VSV, WEI, -WEN,YFI, YUG, ZON, * BEA, * CTH, * -EWT, * -ITN, * MRE, * PCS, * SFV, * -SSO, * STO, * -SVY, and * including those having UOE, including those identified by the International Zeolite Association. For example, certain zeolites known to be useful in the petroleum refining industry include, but are not limited to, AEI, * BEA, CHA, FAU, MFI, MOR, LTL, LTA, or MWW. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be a (FAU) framework zeolite including, for example, USY having a micropore diameter related to a 12-membered ring when viewed along the

[0111] direction of 7.4×7.4 Å. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be a (MFI) framework zeolite including, for example, ZSM-5 having micropore diameters related to 10-membered rings when viewed along the

[0100] and

[0010] directions of 5.5×5.1 Å and 5.6×5.3 Å, respectively. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be a (MOR) framework zeolite including, for example, mordenite zeolite having micropore diameters related to 12-membered and 8-membered rings when viewed along the

[0001] and

[0001] directions of 6.5×7.0 Å and 2.6×5.7 Å, respectively. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be, for example, zeolite beta polymorph A having a micropore diameter related to a 12-membered ring when viewed along the

[0100] and

[0001] directions of 6.6×6.7 Å and 5.6×5.6 Å, respectively, ( *BEA) It can be a framework zeolite. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be a (CHA) framework zeolite, including, for example, chabazite zeolite having a micropore diameter related to an 8-membered ring when viewed perpendicular to the

[0001] direction, such as 3.8×3.8 Å. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be an (LTL) framework zeolite, including, for example, Linde type L zeolite (zeolite L) having a micropore diameter related to a 12-membered ring when viewed along the

[0001] direction, such as 7.1×7.1 Å. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be an (LTA) framework zeolite, including, for example, Linde type A zeolite (zeolite A) having a micropore diameter related to an 8-membered ring when viewed along the

[0100] direction, such as 4.1×4.1 Å. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be an (AEI) framework zeolite having a micropore diameter related to an 8-membered ring when viewed perpendicular to the

[0001] direction, such as 3.8×3.8 Å. In certain embodiments, the parent zeolite can be an (MWW) framework zeolite, including, for example, MCM-22 having micropore diameters related to 10-membered rings of 4.0×5.5 Å and 4.1×5.1 Å respectively for the "interlayer" and "intralayer" when viewed perpendicular to the

[0001] direction.

[0044] In certain embodiments, the parent CMM is a zeolite-type material, such as aluminophosphate (AlPO), silicon-substituted aluminophosphate (SAPO), or metal-containing aluminophosphate (MAPO). In certain embodiments, the parent CMM is a zeolite-based silicon-only framework material.

[0045] As described above, embodiments of the present specification include supramolecular templates containing one or more bulk-like groups having dimensions based on the modeling of molecular dimensions as a rectangular parallelepiped having dimensions A, B, and C that use the van der Waals radius for each individual atom, where one or more, two or more, or all three of the dimensions A, B, and C are such that their dimensions are close enough or large enough that they limit diffusion into the micropores of the CMM. Also, as already described with respect to known parameters related to the pore dimensions of exemplary zeolites, such parameters affect the selection of the supramolecular template. For example, in the examples herein, FAU zeolite is used; when the supramolecular template material is CTAB (about 0.25 nm), HOCMM is not achieved; however, when the supramolecular template is an organosilane (about 0.7 nm), HOCMM is achieved because these dimensions are close to the pore dimensions of the FAU zeolite and thus their entry into such pores is restricted. Similarly, a suitable supramolecular template is determined based on the selected parent CMM.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the parent CMM used in the method is the zeolite of the present specification having an SAR suitable for a particular type of zeolite. Generally, the SAR of the parent zeolite can range from about 2 to 10000, 2 to 5000, 2 to 500, 2 to 100, 2 to 80, 5 to 10000, 5 to 5000, 5 to 500, 5 to 100, 5 to 80, 10 to 10000, 10 to 5000, 10 to 500, 10 to 100, 10 to 80, 50 to 10000, 50 to 5000, 50 to 1000, 50 to 500, or 50 to 100. In certain embodiments, the SAR of the parent zeolite is greater than or equal to 5 or 10 in order to achieve long-range order. In embodiments where the SAR is less than 10, uniform mesoporosity and a certain degree of order can be achieved and the amorphous framework material remains in the product.

[0047] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of a method for making the compositions disclosed herein that use hierarchical ordering by a post-synthetic ensemble synthesis pathway, including a general synthetic mechanism of how AHE affects the g-value to vary the curvature of micelles and induce a mesophase transition. The CMMs schematically shown in Figures 1 and 2 are FAU zeolites, although it is understood that other CMMs can be utilized as the parent CMMs to form the compositions herein by a post-synthetic ensemble synthesis pathway.

[0048] The method includes base-mediated decomposition / cleavage of the parent CMM into oligomeric components and reorganization into a hierarchical ordered mesostructure by supramolecular templating and, in certain embodiments, by the Hofmeister effect. The parent CMM 10 is provided in a crystalline form. An effective amount of an alkali reagent and an effective amount of a surfactant are added with respect to supramolecular templating to form an aqueous suspension, and the suspension is maintained under hydrothermal conditions to form oligomeric CMM units 12 of the parent CMM (such as oligomeric zeolite units when the parent CMM is a zeolite). The supramolecular template molecules 14 are formed into shaped micelles 16, and the oligomeric CMM units hierarchically reassemble and crystallize around the shaped micelles into an ordered mesostructure, HOCMM 18, having defined symmetric mesopores 20 and mesopore walls formed of oligomeric CMM units, thereby retaining the micropores 22 of the CMM structure underlying the parent CMM. In certain embodiments, the compositions herein are HOCMMs 18 containing shaped micelles 16. In certain embodiments, the compositions herein are HOCMMs 18 having a surfactant 14 formed on the shaped micelles 16 that are removed by chemical methods such as, for example, solvent extraction, chemical oxidation, or ionic liquid treatment; or physical methods such as calcination, supercritical CO2, microwave-assisted treatment, ultrasonic-assisted treatment, ozone treatment, or plasma technology.

[0049] The distinct mesophase transitions of hierarchical assemblies that result in distinct mesostructures may be due to the synergistic action of the anionic Hofmeister effect (ion-specific interactions) in supramolecular self-assembly. Anions of various sizes and charges possess various polarizabilities, charge densities, and hydration energies in aqueous solution. When paired with the positive surfactant headgroups, these properties can affect the electrostatic repulsion between the headgroups and the hydration of the micelle interface, and thus change the headgroup area (a0). Such short-range ion-specific interactions can be a significant driving force in changing the curvature of the micelles and inducing mesophase fibers.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic synthesis mechanism is shown, including a schematic diagram of the influence of the g-value and simultaneously the micelle curvature and the induced mesophase transition on the AHE. The molar ratio of the surfactant to the cosolute (which can be expressed as the molar ratio to the salt of the surfactant) is effective in generating the desired mesophase structure. The molar ratio of the surfactant to the cosolute is selected to result in a surfactant packing parameter suitable for inducing a mesophase transition to a desired geometry that induces a change in the curvature of the micelle. In certain embodiments, nitrate is used as the ionic cosolute, and the micelle curvature is represented by a surfactant packing parameter g in the range of about 1 / 2 to about 2 / 3, or in the range of about 0.4 - 0.8, 0.4 - 0.67, 0.5 - 0.8, or 0.5 - 0.67, and the resulting HOCMM has a long-range mesoporous order of cubic symmetry. For example, in certain embodiments, the molar ratio of the surfactant to the cosolute for synthesizing an HOCMM having a long-range mesoporous order of cubic symmetry may be in the range of about 0.8 - 1.3, 0.9 - 1.3, 0.9 - 1.2, or 0.8 - 1.2. The ion-specific interaction (Hofmeister effect) on the micelle curvature in the self-assembly process is evident. Anions of various sizes and charges carry various polarizabilities, charge densities, and hydration energies in an aqueous solution. When paired with the positive surfactant head groups, these properties can affect the electrostatic repulsion between the head groups and the hydration at the micelle interface, thus changing the head group area (a0). Such short-range ion-specific interactions can be a significant driving force in changing the micelle curvature and inducing a mesophase transition. The Hofmeister series (SO4 2- > HPO4 2- > OAc - > Cl - > Br - > NO3 - > ClO4 - > SCN -Based on , strongly hydrated ions (on the left side of the series) can increase the micelle curvature, while weakly hydrated ions can reduce the micelle curvature. Without being bound by theory, the influence of cosolutes such as salts in the mesophase order may be due to its charge balancing effect; in surfactant self-assembly, due to the hydrophobic effect, high-density surfactant molecules are tightly packed within the micelle; as a result, the electrostatic repulsion of the charged head groups should be minimized by counteranions to avoid inducing easy aggregation; thus, the auxiliary counteranions play a role in stabilizing the micelle despite the stepwise change in the concentration of the polyanionic zeolite component.

[0051] An effective amount of solvent is used in the process. In certain embodiments, the solvent is water. In certain embodiments, the solvent is water in the presence of a cosolvent selected from the group consisting of polar solvents, nonpolar solvents, and pore swelling agents (such as 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene). In certain embodiments, the solvent is selected from the group consisting of polar solvents, nonpolar solvents, and pore swelling agents (such as 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) in the absence of water. In an embodiment, the mixture components are added to the reaction vessel together with water and then heated. Typically, water enables proper mixing to achieve a more homogeneous distribution of the suspended components, and ultimately, a more desirable product is produced as the properties of each crystal match more closely with those of adjacent crystals. Insufficient mixing may result in an undesirable product with an amorphous phase or a lower degree of long-range order.

[0052] The suspension components are combined in any suitable order and thoroughly mixed to form a homogeneous distribution of the suspended components. The suspension can be maintained under autogenous pressure (from the components or with the addition of a gas purge into the tank before heating), in an autoclave, or in another suitable tank with stirring, rolling, and / or shaking, etc. The mixing of the suspension components is carried out at a temperature between about 20 - 60, 20 - 50, or 20 - 40 °C.

[0053] The cutting and reassembly steps are carried out during the hydrothermal treatment to form a solid (product, HOCMM with a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry) suspended in the supernatant (mother liquor). The hydrothermal treatment is carried out over a period of about 4 to 168, 12 to 168, 24 to 168, 4 to 96, 12 to 96, or 24 to 96 hours; at a temperature of about 70 to 250, 70 to 210, 70 to 180, 70 to 160, 70 to 150, 90 to 250, 90 to 210, 90 to 180, 90 to 160, 90 to 150, 110 to 250, 110 to 210, 110 to 180, 110 to 160, or 110 to 150 °C; and at a pressure from approximately atmospheric pressure to autogenous pressure. In certain embodiments, the hydrothermal treatment is carried out in the same tank used for mixing, or the suspension is transferred to another tank (such as another autoclave or low-pressure tank). In certain embodiments, the tank used for the hydrothermal treatment is stationary. In certain embodiments, the tank used for the hydrothermal treatment is in a stirred state sufficient to suspend the components.

[0054] The HOCMM with a 3D-cubic symmetry and a defined long-range mesoporous order is the product to be recovered. The solids are recovered using known techniques such as centrifugation, decantation, gravity, vacuum filtration, filter press, or rotary drum. The recovered HOCMM with a 3D-cubic symmetry and a defined long-range mesoporous order is dried, for example, at a temperature of about 50 to 150, 50 to 120, 80 to 150, or 80 to 120 °C, under atmospheric or vacuum conditions, for a period of about 0.5 to 96, 12 to 96, or 24 to 96 hours.

[0055] In certain embodiments, the dried HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry is calcined to remove, for example, the supramolecular template remaining in the mesophase and other components from the mesopores and / or the individual zeolite cell micropores. The conditions for the calcination of the embodiments implemented can include a temperature in the range of about 350 - 650, 350 - 600, 350 - 550, 500 - 650, 500 - 600, or 500 - 550 °C, under atmospheric pressure or vacuum, and a period of about 2.5 - 24, 2.5 - 12, 5 - 24, or 5 - 12 hours. The calcination can be carried out at a rate of increase in the range of about 0.1 - 10, 0.1 - 5, 0.1 - 3, 1 - 10, 1 - 5, or 1 - 3 °C per minute. In certain embodiments, the calcination can have a first step of raising the temperature to between 100 - 150 °C, having a holding time of about 1.5 - 6 or 1 - 12 hours (the rate of increase being about 0.1 - 5, 0.1 - 3, 1 - 5, or 1 - 3 °C per minute), and then raising the temperature to a higher temperature, having a final holding time in the range of about 1.5 - 6 or 1 - 12 hours.

[0056] In certain embodiments, the supernatant remaining after recovering the product from the system is recovered and all or a portion thereof can be reused as all or a portion of the solution in a subsequent process for synthesizing a HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry or another HOCMM. In this embodiment, the recovered supernatant used in the subsequent process is referred to as the supernatant from a conventional synthesis. In certain embodiments, the new synthesis can be carried out using the supernatant from a conventional synthesis together with the parent CMM. In certain embodiments, the new synthesis can be carried out using the supernatant from a conventional synthesis together with the parent CMM and an additional amount of a constituent alkali reagent (e.g., urea). In certain embodiments, the new synthesis can be carried out using the supernatant from a conventional synthesis together with the parent CMM and an additional amount of a constituent supramolecular template. In certain embodiments, the new synthesis can be carried out using the supernatant from a conventional synthesis together with the parent CMM and an additional amount of a constituent ionic co-solute. In certain embodiments, the new synthesis can be carried out using the supernatant from a conventional synthesis together with the parent CMM and an additional amount of a constituent alkali reagent (e.g., urea) and / or a constituent supramolecular template and / or a constituent ionic co-solute as needed.

[0057] The compositions recovered as described herein are hierarchical ordered CMMs (such as zeolites) having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry. These are characterized by the mesoporous channel direction defined by the CMM micropore channels within the walls of the mesostructure. HOCMMs having a defined long-range mesoporous order, recovered from synthesis, carry the supramolecular templates described herein within the mesopores (i.e., prior to calcination or extraction of the supramolecular template). In certain embodiments, HOCMMs having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry, recovered from synthesis, carry micelles of the supramolecular templates described herein within the mesopores (i.e., prior to calcination or extraction of the supramolecular template). The recovered compositions described herein retain the structural integrity of the microporous zeolite structure by controlled cleavage of the parent zeolite and subsequent controlled reassembly of the zeolite oligomers under controlled micelle curvature, resulting in HOCMMs having a defined mesoporous 3D-cubic symmetry.

[0058] This defined long-range mesoporosity is difficult to understand in the field of hierarchical ordered zeolites. The long-range order is defined by secondary peaks associated with the periodic arrangement of the mesopores in the x-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern for a given mesophase, as demonstrated in the examples herein, and / or by microscopic observations. These peaks associated with the mesoporous properties of the product are observed at low 2θ angles. The material also shows high angle peaks associated with the zeolite, observed at high 2-theta angles. In certain embodiments, the low angle peaks refer to those occurring at 2θ angles of less than about 6°.

[0059] In certain embodiments herein, the long-range mesoporous order of the HOCMMs generated by the methods described herein is characterized by the periodicity of the mesopores repeating over lengths greater than about 50 nm.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry herein has a surface area of about 200-1500, 200-1000, 200-900, 400-1500, 400-1000, 400-900, 500-1500, 500-1000, or 500-900 m² / g. In the embodiments herein, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry herein has a mesoporous pore diameter of about 2-50, 2-20, or 2-10 nm. In the embodiments herein, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry herein has a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 2.5-1500, 3-1500, 4-1500, 5-1500, 6-1500, 2.5-1000, 3-1000, 4-1000, 5-1000, 6-1000, 2.5-500, 3-500, 4-500, 5-500, 6-500, 2.5-100, 3-100, 4-100, 5-100, or 6-100. In the embodiments herein, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-symmetry herein has a total pore volume of about 0.01-1.50, 0.01-1.0, 0.01-0.75, 0.01-0.65, 0.1-1.50, 0.1-1.0, 0.1-0.75, 0.1-0.65, 0.2-1.50, 0.2-1.0, 0.2-0.75, 0.2-0.65, 0.3-1.50, 0.3-1.0, 0.3-0.75, or 0.3-0.65 cc / g. 2 / g. In the embodiments herein, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry herein has a mesoporous pore diameter of about 2-50, 2-20, or 2-10 nm. In the embodiments herein, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-cubic symmetry herein has a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 2.5-1500, 3-1500, 4-1500, 5-1500, 6-1500, 2.5-1000, 3-1000, 4-1000, 5-1000, 6-1000, 2.5-500, 3-500, 4-500, 5-500, 6-500, 2.5-100, 3-100, 4-100, 5-100, or 6-100. In the embodiments herein, the HOCMM having a defined long-range mesoporous order of 3D-symmetry herein has a total pore volume of about 0.01-1.50, 0.01-1.0, 0.01-0.75, 0.01-0.65, 0.1-1.50, 0.1-1.0, 0.1-0.75, 0.1-0.65, 0.2-1.50, 0.2-1.0, 0.2-0.75, 0.2-0.65, 0.3-1.50, 0.3-1.0, 0.3-0.75, or 0.3-0.65 cc / g.

[0061] In embodiments of this specification, the products produced and demonstrated by the above method in the examples of this specification are characterized by a mesophase having cubic symmetry. In certain embodiments, the product is a 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous zeolite. The HOCMM with a mesophase having cubic symmetry is characterized by cubic mesoporous channel directions with CMM micropore channels within the walls of the mesostructure. The cubic mesophase can possess one of the symmetries of Ia-3d, Fm-3m, Pm-3n, Pn-3m, or Im-3m. In embodiments of this specification, the cubic mesophase possesses Ia-3d symmetry, and the secondary XRD peaks associated with the periodic arrangement configuration of the mesopores are present in one or more of the (220), (321), (400), (420), and (332) reflections. In embodiments of this specification, the cubic mesophase possesses Ia-3d symmetry, and the high degree of long-range cubic mesophase order is observable by microscopy seen by an electron beam along an appropriate zone axis, e.g., the

[0311] ,

[0111] , or

[0110] zone axis. In embodiments of this specification, nitrate (NO3 -) is used when an ionic co-solute is used to generate a mesophase having cubic symmetry. In these embodiments, the CMM structure is arranged in cubic symmetry on the mesoscale, and the CMM particles (regardless of their atomic-level symmetry or structure) are arranged (on the mesoscale) around the micelles, thereby arranging micelles exhibiting cubic symmetry. Thus, a HOCMM having a cubic mesophase is a CMM characterized by atomic-level symmetry and having micropores inherent to that type of CMM, arranged in cubic symmetry at the mesoscale level together with mesopores, where the walls of the mesopores and a group of mesostructures between the mesopores are characterized by said CMM (e.g., crystalline zeolite). This is created as described herein by forming oligomers of the underlying CMM and arranging those oligomers around micelles exhibiting cubic symmetry at the mesoscale. In one embodiment, a HOCMM is provided that includes an NFI zeolite having an orthorhombic symmetry at the atomic level arranged in cubic symmetry at the mesoscale, where oligomers of the parent MFI zeolite are formed during the synthesis of the hierarchical ordered zeolite from the parent MFI zeolite and arranged around micelles exhibiting cubic symmetry at the mesoscale. In one embodiment, a HOCMM is provided that includes a CHA zeolite having a trigonal symmetry at the atomic level arranged in cubic symmetry at the mesoscale, where oligomers of the parent CHA zeolite are formed during the synthesis of the hierarchical ordered zeolite from the parent CHA zeolite and arranged around micelles exhibiting cubic symmetry at the mesoscale. In one embodiment, a HOCMM is provided that includes a BEA zeolite having a tetragonal symmetry at the atomic level arranged in cubic symmetry at the mesoscale, where oligomers of the parent BEA zeolite are formed during the synthesis of the hierarchical ordered zeolite from the parent BEA zeolite and arranged around micelles exhibiting cubic symmetry at the mesoscale. In one embodiment, a HOCMM is provided that includes a MWW zeolite having a hexagonal symmetry at the atomic level arranged in cubic symmetry at the mesoscale, where oligomers of the parent MWW zeolite are formed during the synthesis of the hierarchical ordered zeolite from the parent MWW zeolite and arranged around micelles exhibiting cubic symmetry at the mesoscale.In one embodiment, an HOCMM is provided that includes an FAU zeolite having atomic-level cubic symmetry arranged in a cubic symmetry at the mesoscale. During the synthesis of the hierarchical ordered zeolite from the parent FAU zeolite, oligomers of the parent FAU zeolite are formed and arranged around micelles that exhibit cubic symmetry at the mesoscale.

[0062] The HOCMM produced according to the present disclosure is effective as a catalyst or a component of a catalyst in the hydrocracking of hydrocarbon oils. In certain embodiments, provided herein is a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil, the method comprising hydrocracking the hydrocarbon oil with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising a hierarchically ordered zeolite produced according to the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, provided herein is a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil, the method comprising hydrocracking the hydrocarbon oil with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising a hierarchically ordered FAU zeolite produced according to the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, provided herein is a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil, the method comprising hydrocracking the hydrocarbon oil with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising a hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material having a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order including mesopores having walls of a crystalline microporous material and a group of mesostructures between the mesopores of the crystalline microporous material.

[0063] The HOCMM according to the present disclosure is effective as a catalyst or a component of a catalyst in the hydrocracking of hydrocarbon oils. The HOCMM can be used as a support on which one or more active and durable components are loaded on the surface as a hydrocracking catalyst. The active metal component is loaded, e.g., retained, on a surface including the mesopore wall surface, the micropore wall surface, or the mesopore and micropore wall surfaces; the active metal component is loaded according to known methods such as providing an aqueous solution of the active metal component and subjecting the HOCMM as the catalyst support material to immersion, incipient wetness, and evaporation, or any other suitable method. In certain embodiments, the CMM of the HOCMM includes zeolite. In certain embodiments, the CMM of the HOCMM is one or more zeolite types AEI. *It includes BEA, CHA, FAU, MFI, MOR, LTL, LTA, or MWW. In certain embodiments, the CMM of the HOCMM includes a FAU zeolite.

[0064] The contents of the HOCMM and the active metal component are appropriately determined according to the target. In certain embodiments, the hydrocracking catalyst includes the HOCMM as a carrier and typically includes an inorganic oxide component as a binder and / or granulating agent. For example, the carrier particles (before loading one or more hydrocracking active metal components) can contain the HOCMM in the range of about 0.1 to 99, 0.1 to 90, 0.1 to 80, 0.1 to 70, 0.1 to 50, 0.1 to 40, 2 to 99, 2 to 90, 2 to 80, 2 to 70, 2 to 50, 2 to 40, 20 to 100, 20 to 90, 20 to 80, 20 to 70, 20 to 50, or 20 to 40% by mass, and the remaining content is an inorganic oxide. In certain embodiments, the carrier particles (before loading one or more hydrocracking active metal components) can contain the HOCMM in the range of about 0.1 to 99, 0.1 to 90, 0.1 to 80, 0.1 to 70, 0.1 to 50, 0.1 to 40, 2 to 99, 2 to 90, 2 to 80, 2 to 70, 2 to 50, 2 to 40, 20 to 100, 20 to 90, 20 to 80, 20 to 70, 20 to 50, or 20 to 40% by mass, and the remaining content is an inorganic oxide and one or more other zeolite-based materials.

[0065] As the inorganic oxide component, any material used in hydrocracking or other catalyst compositions in related technologies can be used. Examples thereof include alumina, silica, titania, silica-alumina, alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina, silica-alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina-silica, silica-alumina-titania, silica-alumina-zirconia, alumina-zirconia-titania, phosphorus-alumina-zirconia, alumina-zirconia-titania, and phosphorus-alumina-titania.

[0066] The active metal component can include one or more metals or metal compounds (oxides or sulfides) known in the art of hydrocracking, including those selected from Groups 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the IUPAC periodic table. In certain embodiments, the active metal component is one or more of Mo, W, Co, or Ni (oxides or sulfides). Additional active metal components can be included in the catalyst in effective concentrations. For example, the total active component content in the hydrocracking catalyst can be present in amounts known in the relevant art, e.g., about 0.01 - 40, 0.1 - 40, 1 - 40, 2 - 40, 5 - 40, 0.01 - 30, 0.1 - 30, 1 - 30, 2 - 30, 5 - 30, 0.01 - 20, 0.1 - 20, 1 - 20, 2 - 20, or 5 - 20 wt% with respect to the metal, oxide, or sulfide. In certain embodiments, the active metal component is loaded using a solution of the oxide and, prior to use, the hydrocracking catalyst is sulfided.

[0067] In certain embodiments, a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil using a hydrocracking catalyst described herein that includes HOCMM as a component is carried out in the presence of hydrogen, e.g., a hydrocarbon oil having a boiling point in the range of about 370 - 833, 370 - 816, 370 - 650, 375 - 833, 375 - 816, or 375 - 650 °C, in one or more reactors operating at a reactor temperature in the range of about 300 - 500, 300 - 450, 300 - 420, 350 - 500, 350 - 450, or 350 - 420 °C, a hydrogen partial pressure in the range of about 20 - 100, 20 - 70, 20 - 55, 30 - 100, 30 - 70, 30 - 55, or 40 - 55 bar, a liquid hourly space velocity (''LHSV'', the volume flow rate of the liquid feed divided by the volume of the catalyst) in the range of about 0.1 - 10, 0.2 - 1.5 h -1 and a hydrogen (Nm 3 / m 3) includes the step of introducing into a hydrocracking zone containing a hydrogen / oil ratio which is as such. The "hydrocracking zone" means one or more reactors and associated effluent separation devices and can accommodate two or more reactors. In certain embodiments, the feedstock is pretreated within the boiling range described above or is a recycle stream, and its sulfur content is less than 100 ppmw or 50 ppmw or 10 ppmw, and its nitrogen content is less than 100 ppmw or 50 ppmw or 10 ppmw.

[0068] In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil according to certain embodiments herein, the fluid reactor described above can be a fluid reactor selected from a stirred bath reactor, a fluidized bed reactor, a baffled slurry bath reactor, a fixed bed reactor, a rotary tube reactor, and a slurry bed reactor.

[0069] In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil according to certain embodiments herein, the hydrocarbon oil described above preferably contains a heavy hydrocarbon oil obtained from (1) crude oil, (2) synthetic crude oil, (3) bitumen, (4) oil sand, (5) shale oil, (6) coal liquid, (7) plastic pyrolysis oil, (8) biomass-derived oil, or (9) Fischer-Tropsch wax.

[0070] In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil according to a particular embodiment of the present specification, the above-mentioned hydrocarbon oil contains a heavy hydrocarbon oil obtained from crude oil, synthetic crude oil, bitumen, oil sand, shale oil, or coal liquid, and the heavy hydrocarbon oil is preferably a) vacuum gas oil (VGO), b) deasphalted oil (DAO) or demetallized oil obtained from a solvent deasphalting process, c) light coker gas oil or heavy coker gas oil obtained from a coking process, d) cycle oil obtained from a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process, e) gas oil obtained from a bis-breaking process, or f) any of the recycle streams obtained from hydrocracking one or more of (a) to (e). In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil according to a particular embodiment of the present specification, the hydrocarbon oil includes a recycle stream obtained from the hydrocracking of VGO. In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil using a hydrocracking catalyst described in the present specification and including HOCMM as a component according to a particular embodiment of the present specification, the hydrocarbon oil includes a recycle stream obtained from the hydrocracking of VGO, straight-run VGO, or pretreated straight-run VGO, and the selectivity for its naphtha and / or middle distillate is prepared as a function of the mesophase induced by the HOCMM described in the present specification so as to enable operational flexibility. In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil using a hydrocracking catalyst described in the present specification and including HOCMM as a component according to a particular embodiment of the present specification, the hydrocarbon oil is a recycle stream obtained from the hydrocracking of VGO, straight-run VGO, or pretreated straight-run VGO, and includes those in which the selectivity for its naphtha and / or middle distillate is adjusted as a function of the mesophase induced by the HOCMM described in the present specification so as to enable operational flexibility.

[0071] In a method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil using a hydrocracking catalyst described herein, which comprises HOCMM as a component according to certain embodiments herein, the hydrocarbon oil is a recycle stream obtained from hydrocracking of VGO, straight-run VGO, or pretreated straight-run VGO, and the selectivity to naphtha and middle distillates thereof is adjusted as a function of a cubic symmetry mesophase induced by the HOCMM described herein to enable operational flexibility.

Examples

[0072] The HOCMM produced in the examples herein exhibits a significant degree of defined long-range mesoporous order as given by the low-angle XRD pattern. The parent zeolite used in the examples and comparative examples has a FAU framework, and zeolite Y (obtained from Zeolyst International, product name CBV 720), which is referred to herein as zeolite HY-15, has a SiO2 / Al2O3 (SAR) of about 30 (Si / Al atomic ratio of 15). The examples are shown with respect to this particular zeolite, but the methods herein can be applied to other types of parent CMMs from other sources described herein, whether obtained from another synthesis process or from a commercial manufacturer. Thus, the resulting composition has a mesoporous structure with microporosity corresponding to the parent CMM and a CMM structure. The solution was prepared at room temperature (RT) under stirring at 500 RPM.

[0073] Characterization in this specification was carried out as follows. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained using a Bruker D8 dual diffractometer operating at 40 kV and 40 mA with Cu Kα radiation (λ = 0.154 nm) and a step size of 0.02°. N2 physisorption measurements were performed at 77 K using a Micrometrics ASAP 2420 instrument. All samples were degassed at 350 °C for 12 hours prior to analysis. Specific surface area and pore size distribution were calculated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and non-local density functional theory (NLDFT) models. The micropore volume was calculated using the t-plot method. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were conducted using an FEI-Titan ST electron microscope operating at 300 kV. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were obtained using a Nova Nano HR-SEM 240 microscope operating at 4 kV. The samples were sputter-coated with platinum (Pt) prior to analysis to eliminate charging effects. The Si / Al ratio was calculated by solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) experiments using a Bruker Advance 400 MHz instrument applying a 4 μs high-frequency pulse and a 60 s recycle delay. Conversely, the bulk Si / Al ratio of the zeolite was calculated from an analysis performed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) using a 5100 ICP-OES Agilent instrument. Prior to analysis, the samples were mixed with hydrofluoric acid (HF) and nitric acid (HNO3) and decomposed at 260 °C and 160 bar using an Ultra WAVE microwave digestion system (Milestone).

[0074] For the acquisition of electron micrographs for tomography reconstruction, zeolite powder was deposited on a Quantifoil 300 mesh TEM grid that supports a continuous carbon film with a thickness of 2 nm on a perforated carbon film. Before zeolite deposition, a dilute solution of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a diameter of about 5 nm was dispersed on the TEM grid. The AuNPs are to be used for the alignment of serial tilt images of the tomography. To protect the specimen from radiation-induced damage during the long exposure time required for tomography data acquisition, the acquisition of serial tilt images of the tomography was performed on a Krios G4 (ThemoFisher (trademark)) electron microscope at liquid nitrogen temperature. The actual temperature at the stage level was about 183 °C. Serial tilt images were acquired in energy filter (EF) mode using a 30 eV slit to increase the contrast of bright-field TEM images. Detection was performed with a Falcon i electron direct detector camera operating in electron counting mode with a 4096 pixel frame size. To keep the total exposure dose low, only specimen tracking was performed after each serial tilt image during data acquisition. Refocusing was done manually about every 10 images. The angular range was ±64°, and the tilt step was 1°. Serial tilt images were aligned with IMOD software using 13 AuNPs as fiducial markers that are clearly visible at each tilt. Before reconstruction, image binning 2 was performed to increase the SNR and reduce the calculation time. To enhance the visibility of pores in the 3D tomogram, the images were filtered using an average background subtraction filter (ABSF) implemented as a script in Digital Micrograph. The SIRT reconstruction algorithm was executed with 100 iterations using a relaxation factor of 1.

[0075] Coke quantification was performed from thermogravimetric-temperature programmed oxidation (TG-TPO / MS) equipped with a mass spectrometer using a Mettler-Toledo TGA instrument. Before combustion, the catalyst sample was heated to 350 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C / min for 0.5 h under a N2 flow (50 mL / min). After cooling to 100 °C, coke combustion was carried out in air up to 850 °C at a heating rate of 5 °C / min. At the same time, the CO2 (m / z = 44) profile from combustion was analyzed using an OmniStarTM mass spectrometer (MS).

[0076] (Example 1A) An amount of 0.6 grams of urea was added to 28.3 grams of water to form a homogeneous solution. To this solution, an amount of 1.0 gram of dry zeolite HY-15 was dispersed and stirred for an additional 0.5 h. Then, 20 milliliters of water and 1.5 milliliters of DOAC (42.0 mass% in methanol) were added and stirred for an additional 2 h. The resulting solution was subjected to hydrothermal treatment at 130 °C for 5 days. The resulting solid was filtered, washed with water, and dried at 120 °C for 24 h. The synthetic product was calcined in air at 550 °C for 6.0 h at a heating rate of 60 °C / h to obtain U-TMS (where U refers to urea). The U-TMS formed by this procedure exhibited poorly defined mesoporosity and was characterized by the textural properties presented in FIGS. 3A - 4B and Table 3.

[0077] In an alternative procedure, an amount of 1.2 grams of urea was dissolved in 60.0 grams of water to form a homogeneous solution. To this mixture, 2.0 grams of dry zeolite HY-15 was added and stirred for 10 min. Then, 3.0 milliliters of DOAC (42.0 mass% in methanol) was added. The resulting solution was stirred for 0.5 h and then hydrothermal treatment was carried out at 130 °C for 72 h. The resulting mixture was filtered, washed with water, and dried at 120 °C for 24 h. The synthetic product was calcined in air at 550 °C for 6 h at a heating rate of 60 °C / h to obtain U-TMS that did not possess defined mesoporosity.

[0078] (Example 1B) A procedure for synthesizing a 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous FAU-type zeolite is provided. An amount of 0.6 grams of urea was added to 10.0 grams of water to form a homogeneous solution. To this solution, an amount of 1.0 gram of dry zeolite HY-15 was added and stirred for 0.5 hour. Thereafter, 20 milliliters of water, 0.1 gram of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) as a source of ionic co-solute, and 1.5 milliliters of DOAC (42.0 mass% in methanol) were added stepwise, and the mixture was stirred for an additional 2 hours. The resulting solution was subjected to hydrothermal treatment at 130 °C for 5 days. The resulting solid was filtered, washed with water, and dried at 120 °C for 24 hours. The synthesized product was calcined in air at 550 °C for 6.0 hours at a heating rate of 60 °C / hour to obtain U-N-TMS-130 (where N refers to nitrate and "130" refers to the hydrothermal treatment temperature). The U-N-TMS-130 formed by this procedure exhibits 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous symmetry, is characterized in FIGS. 3A - 4B, TEM is presented in FIGS. 5A - 5C, and the structural and textural properties are presented in Table 3.

[0079] In an alternative procedure, an amount of 1.2 grams of urea was dissolved in 60.0 grams of water to form a homogeneous solution. To this mixture, 0.2 gram of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) as a source of ionic co-solute was added and stirred to form a homogeneous solution. 2.0 grams of dry zeolite HY-15 was added and stirred for 10 minutes. Thereafter, 30 milliliters of DOAC (42.0 mass% in methanol) was added. The resulting solution was stirred for 0.5 hour, and then hydrothermal treatment was carried out at 130 °C for 72 hours. The resulting solid was filtered, washed with water, and dried at 120 °C for 24 hours. The synthesized product was calcined in air at 550 °C for 6 hours at a heating rate of 60 °C / hour to obtain U-N-TMS. The calcined U-N-TMS formed by this procedure exhibits 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous symmetry as is evident from the TEM images presented in FIGS. 6A - 6B.

[0080] (Example 1C) The procedure was similar to that disclosed herein in the first procedure of Example 1B, except that 1.0 gram of urea and 2.0 milliliters of DOAC (42.0 mass% in methanol) were used and the hydrothermal treatment was carried out at 150 °C for 72 hours. The calcined product is U-N-TMS-150 having a 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous symmetry. U-N-TMS-150 from this procedure is characterized in FIGS. 3A to 4B, its TEM images are presented in FIGS. 8A to 8C, and the structural and textural properties are presented in Table 3.

[0081] When Example 1A was compared with Example 1B and Example 1C, the benefit of the ionic cosolute contribution of nitrate was evident. The ionic cosolute serves to affect the cubic micelle shape by the Hofmeister effect, and the FAU-type zeolite oligomers are arranged around it. FIG. 3A shows a low-angle XRD pattern, FIG. 3B shows a high-angle XRD pattern, FIG. 4A shows an N2 physical adsorption isotherm, and FIG. 4B shows a DFT pore size distribution, where "a" corresponds to commercial-USY (zeolite HY-15), "b" corresponds to U-N-TMS-130, and "c" corresponds to U-N-TMS-150. In Example 1A, there is perhaps periodicity in the mesopore arrangement configuration from either a bimodal or a structural disruption, however, there is a marked lack of any long-range order as observed by low-angle XRD showing the reflection characteristics of a gyro dial continuous (cubic) mesopore structure in FIG. 3A (Ia-3d), compared to Example 1B having nitrate ions. In Example 1B, the product, the hierarchical ordered zeolite, is a 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous FAU-type zeolite having cubic mesoporous channels with FAU micropore channels in the walls, which exist in the

[0100] and

[0110] directions, and a group of mesostructures between the mesopores.

[0082] Figures 5A-5C represent TEM micrographs of calcined U-N-TMS-130 formed by the first procedure of Example 1B, showing cubic mesoporous channels in the

[0111] and

[0110] directions, where Figure 5A is at a scale of 100 nanometers and Figures 5B-5C are at a scale of 50 nanometers. Figures 6A-6B are TEM micrographs of calcined U-N-TMS formed by the second procedure of Example 1B, showing cubic mesoporous channels in the

[0111] and

[0110] directions: Figure 6A shows the TEM micrograph at a scale of 100 nanometers; Figure 6B shows the TEM photographs in the

[0110] direction and the

[0111] direction at a scale of 20 nanometers; and Figure 6C shows the schematic and dimensions of the FAU unit cell and the arrangement configuration providing their long-range mesoporous order. The high degree of long-range order is evident from the low-angle XRD pattern of Figure 3A, which is characteristic of a co-continuous gyroic (cubic) (Ia-3d) mesopore symmetry (reflections at 321, 400, 420, and 332 are broadened), showing Bragg reflections 211, 220, 321, 400, 420, and 332. The retention of the underlying zeolite structure is evident from the high-angle XRD pattern of Figure 3B, which is consistent with that of the parent zeolite, FAU zeolite. Furthermore, U-N-TMS-130 and U-N-TMS-150 demonstrate excellent hierarchical-ordered mesoporosity, as shown by the characteristic type-IV isotherm with H1 hysteresis shown in the N2 physisorption isotherm of Figure 4A. Furthermore, the high mesopore volume and narrow pore size distribution demonstrated in Figure 4B further support the existence of long-range ordered mesoporosity. Figure 7 represents the electron tomography reconstruction of U-N-TMS-150, and its inset shows an enlarged view of the pore architecture and a superimposed view of the structure. Figures 8A-C represent TEM micrographs of U-N-TMS-150 together with the corresponding structural diagrams. Figure 8A shows the TEM micrograph at a scale of 20 nanometers in the

[0100] orientation, Figure 8B shows a scale of 50 nanometers in the

[0110] orientation, Figure 8C shows a scale of 10 nanometers in the

[0111] orientation. The insets in Figures 8A-8B show enlarged views, and the inset in Figure 8C shows selected area electron diffraction (SAED).U-N-TMS-150 synthesized at higher temperatures demonstrated improved textural properties as a result of the complete removal of extra-framework aluminum. The 3D mesostructure by electron tomography (ET) revealed a homogeneous distribution of mesoporous channels within the zeolite volume. Longitudinal slices cut through the center of the zeolite grains show a continuous network of mesopores developed along the crystallographic directions. The inset in Figure 7 emphasizes the 3D spatial homogeneity of the hierarchical pore architecture. The interconnected mesoporous network structure formed by the zeolite framework extends from the outer surface to the core of the zeolite grains.

[0083] According to the examples herein, the hierarchical ordered FAU-type framework exhibiting 3D-cubic (Ia-3d) mesopore symmetry is prepared for the first time by systematic post-synthesis reassembly.

[0084] (Example 2) The catalytic properties of the U-N-TMS-150 3D-cubic ordered mesoporous FAU-type zeolite were evaluated regarding the hydrocracking of recycle stream (feedstock for the second stage) from a two-stage hydrocracking unit using a fixed-bed reactor. The feedstock was the pretreated straight-run vacuum gas oil from the first-stage hydrocracking unit and thus contained very low levels of sulfur and nitrogen at 40 ppmw and 17 ppmw, respectively. The composition and properties of the feedstock are summarized in Table 4. The catalyst was prepared by mixing mesoporous FAU-type zeolite (30%) with alumina (70 wt%) and then wet impregnating with nickel (Ni) and molybdenum (Mo) species first. In particular, 70 wt% of alumina was dispersed in a minimal amount of deionized (DI) water. To this slurry, 30 wt% of zeolite was slowly added and stirred for 15 minutes. In the next step, the desired amount of (NH4)6Mo7O 24·4H2O (8.5 mass% Mo), Ni(NO3)2·6H2O (3.0 mass% Ni), and citric acid (7.5 mass%) were added to the zeolite-alumina slurry and stirred for an additional 1 hour. The mixture thus obtained was dried overnight at 120 °C and then calcined at 550 °C for 4 hours. The resulting metal oxide-loaded catalyst in powder form was sulfided in a batch reactor (Parr) at 300 °C and 5 bar for 4 hours in the presence of 40 bar of hydrogen using dimethyl disulfide (1 mL / g of catalyst) as the sulfiding agent. The catalyst bed was prepared by filling 0.5 g of the sulfide catalyst between two layers of silicon carbide (46 mesh) (volume was 16 ml) in a stainless-steel cylindrical reactor (SS316; inner diameter - 9.2 mm; length - 300 mm) with a 20-μm porous plate positioned at the bottom. The loaded catalyst was purged with an H2 / N2 (75:25 volume ratio) gas mixture at a flow rate of 100 ml / h and at 450 °C and 50 bars for 2 hours to remove any moisture. The catalyst study was carried out at a temperature of 400 °C and a pressure of 50 bar with an H2 / oil ratio of 750 Nm 3 / m 3 and a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 1 h -1 . The reaction was carried out for 10 hours, and the liquid was separated from the liquid-gas separator and collected periodically every hour for gas chromatography (GC) analysis. The liquid products were analyzed using an Agilent 6980N GC connected to simulated distillation (SIMDIS) software according to the ASTM D2887 standard test method.

[0085] The conversion rate (X) of the feedstock, the selectivity (S) and yield (Y) for the desired hydrocarbon mixture, naphtha (C4 - 150 °C), kerosene (150 - 250 °C), and gas oil (250 - 370 °C) were calculated from the boiling point distribution curves obtained by literature-based SIMDIS analysis according to equations (1), (2), and (3), respectively:

[0086]

Equation

[0087] In the formula,

[0088]

number

[0089] corresponds to the proportion (mass%) of the remaining materials in the feedstock and the product at a boiling point ≥ 370 °C.

[0090]

number

[0091]

number

[0092] In the formula,

[0093]

number

[0094] corresponds to the proportion (mass%) of the materials in the product and the feedstock between the boiling points “x and y”. S x-y and Y x-y correspond to the selectivity and yield of the hydrocarbon fraction between the boiling points “x and y”. The conversion rate per acid site was calculated by dividing the obtained conversion rate by the total number of acid sites quantified by pyridine FTIR spectroscopy at 150 °C.

[0095] Table 5 shows the acid properties and catalytic performance of the parent zeolite and the synthesized Y-U-N-TMS. Despite having a lower concentration of zeolite-based acid sites compared to the parent zeolite, the HOCMM synthesized herein demonstrates excellent catalytic performance. Figure 9 is a plot of the hydrocracking activity (conversion percentage per acid site) and selectivity (naphtha, middle distillate, and heavy distillate) of the catalysts formed using the parent zeolite, and HOCMM, U-N-TMS described herein. The HOCMM synthesized herein demonstrates a higher conversion rate and naphtha selectivity compared to the parent zeolite.

[0096] The adjustment of the related physicochemical properties induced by realizing the meso symmetry and the cubic symmetry mesophase led to an increased product selectivity, i.e., higher naphtha and middle distillate yields.

[0097] The investigation of the properties of coke is also used to determine the catalyst stability and lifetime. In this regard, the properties of the coke with respect to the catalyst used were quantified from the CO2 profiles obtained from combustion using temperature-programmed oxidation. Figure 10 shows the CO2 profiles from coke combustion in the upper part and temperature-programmed oxidation of the spent catalyst in the lower part, where pattern (a) represents the parent zeolite and pattern (b) represents the hexagonal HOCMM of this specification. The catalyst showed two main peaks in the regions of 320 - 500 °C and 500 - 640 °C corresponding to external coke and internal coke (zeolite micropores) present in the mesopores, respectively. Without being bound by theory, it is predicted that the internal coke is responsible for zeolite deactivation due to its restricted combustion during regeneration under low-pressure cracking conditions, which tend to form high internal coke, especially as a result of low H / C ratios and poor accessibility to O2. In this regard, the HOCMM of this specification showed lower internal coke deposition (15 - 20%) compared to the parent (35%) zeolite due to its high diffusion properties. In commercial hydrocracking, the zeolite component of the catalyst is extremely important to provide flexibility to the refining unit in its mode of operation, i.e., being selective for middle distillates or naphtha, and the HOCMM of this specification can be used to operate the refining unit under various modes of operation.

[0098] The improved naphtha selectivity indicates improved accessibility to the acid sites, and it seems that secondary cracking from middle distillate hydrocarbons to naphtha hydrocarbons occurs. The synthesized U-N-TMS possesses a high B / L acid site ratio and a 3D-meso structure, demonstrating excellent conversion of the VGO feedstock and good selectivity for naphtha and middle distillates.

[0099] As used herein, the term "majority" with respect to a particular composition and / or solution and / or other parameter means at least about 50% and up to 100% of a unit or amount. As used herein, the term "significant portion" with respect to a particular composition and / or solution and / or other parameter means at least about 75% and up to 100% of a unit or amount. As used herein, the term "substantial portion" with respect to a particular composition and / or solution and / or other parameter means at least about 90, 95, 98, or 99%, and up to 100% of a unit or amount. As used herein, the term "minor portion" with respect to a particular composition and / or solution and / or other parameter means at least about 1, 2, 4, or 10%, up to about 20, 30, 40, or 50% of a unit or amount.

[0100] It is to be understood that like reference numerals in the drawings represent like elements throughout the several views, and that not all components and / or steps described and illustrated in connection with the figures are required for all embodiments or arrangements. Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are to be construed to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "including", "comprising", "having", "containing", "involving", and variations thereof as used herein, when used, specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components referred to, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0101] The use of terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc. in a claim to modify elements of the claim does not, in itself, imply any priority, precedence, or order of elements of one claim over another claim, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but is simply used as a label to distinguish an element of one claim having a particular name from another element having the same name (apart from ordinary terms) for distinguishing elements of the claim.

[0102] In particular, the figures and the above embodiments do not mean that the scope of the present disclosure is limited to a single embodiment, since other embodiments are possible through the exchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements. Further, if a particular element of the present disclosure can be implemented partially or fully using known components, only those parts of such known components that are necessary for understanding the present disclosure are described, and detailed descriptions of other parts of such known components are omitted so as not to obscure the present disclosure. In this specification, an embodiment showing a single component does not necessarily have to be limited to other embodiments including a plurality of the same components, unless otherwise explicitly stated in this specification, and vice versa. Further, the applicant does not intend to ascribe any non-general or special meaning to any term in this specification or the claims, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Further, the present disclosure includes current and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of example.

[0103] The foregoing description of specific embodiments will make the general nature of the present disclosure very fully apparent, without departing from the general concepts of the present disclosure, and by applying knowledge within the scope of those of ordinary skill in the relevant art without undue experimentation, various applications of such specific embodiments can be readily modified and / or applied by others. Accordingly, such applications and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments based on the teachings and guidance presented herein. The language or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and thus it should be understood that the terminology or language herein is to be interpreted by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art in light of the teachings and guidance presented herein in combination with their knowledge. It should be understood that the dimensions discussed or shown are drawn in accordance with one embodiment and that other dimensions can be used without departing from the present disclosure.

[0104] The foregoing are provided merely as examples and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes can be made to the subject matter described herein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention encompassed by the present disclosure, which is defined by several of the recitations in the following claims and by the structures and functions or steps that are equivalents of these recitations, without following the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described.

[0105] [Table 1]

[0106] [Table 2]

[0107] [Table 3]

[0108] [Table 4]

[0109]

Table 5

Explanation of Symbols

[0110] 10 Parent CMM 12 Oligomer CMM Unit 14 Supramolecular Template Molecule, Surfactant 16 Micelle 18 HOCMM 20 Mesopore 22 Micropore 200 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection 211 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection 220 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection 321 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection 332 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection 400 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection 420 Continuous Gyroid (Cubic) Reflection, Bragg Reflection

Claims

Claim 1 A composition comprising a hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material having a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order, including mesopores having walls of a crystalline microporous material and a group of mesostructures between the mesopores of the crystalline microporous material, wherein the long-range order is defined by the presence of secondary peaks in an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and / or the presence of cubic symmetry observable by microscopy. Claim 2 A composition comprising a hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material having a cubic-symmetric defined long-range mesoporous order, including mesopores having walls of a crystalline microporous material and a group of mesostructures between the mesopores of the crystalline microporous material, wherein at least a portion of the mesopores contain micelles of a supramolecular template shaped to induce a cubic-symmetric mesoporous order, and the supramolecular template has one or more dimensions larger than the dimensions of the micropores of the crystalline microporous material so as to limit diffusion into the micropores of the crystalline microporous material, and the dimensions are related to the head group of the supramolecular template, the tail group of the supramolecular template, or a co-template arrangement configuration that limits diffusion into the micropores of the crystalline microporous material. Claim 3 The composition according to claim 2, further comprising an ionic co-solute. Claim 4 The supramolecular template is characterized by a surfactant packing parameter g in the range of about 0.4 to 0.8, g = V / a 0 l wherein, V = the total volume of the surfactant tails of the supramolecular template, a 0 = the area of the head group of the supramolecular template, and l = the length of the surfactant tails of the supramolecular template The composition according to claim 2 or 3. Claim 5 wherein the ionic cosolute is NO 3 - The composition according to claim 3 or 4, comprising Claim 6 The composition according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the molar ratio of the supramolecular template to the co-solute is in the range of about 0.8 to 1.

3. Claim 7 The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cubic mesophase has symmetry of Ia-3d, Fm-3m, Pm-3n, Pn-3m, or Im-3m. Claim 8 The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cubic mesophase has symmetry of Ia-3d and the secondary peak in the XRD is present in one or more of the (220), (321), (400), (420), or (332) reflections. Claim 9 The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cubic mesophase has an Ia-3d symmetry and the long-range order is observable by microscopy looking at an electron beam along the [311], [111], or [110] zone axis.

10. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cubic mesophase has an Fm-3m symmetry and the long-range order is observable by microscopy looking at an electron beam along the [001] or [110] zone axis.

11. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the crystalline microporous material comprises a zeolite or a zeolite-type material.

12. the crystalline microporous material is AEI, * The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is a zeolite having a framework selected from the group consisting of BEA, CHA, FAU, MFI, MOR, LTL, LTA, and MWW.

13. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the parent crystalline microporous material is a zeolite having a FAU framework.

14. A hydrocracking catalyst comprising the hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material according to any one of claims 11, 12, or 13, an inorganic oxide component as a binder, and an active metal component.

15. The hydrocracking catalyst according to claim 14, wherein the hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material comprises about 0.1 to 99, 0.1 to 90, 0.1 to 80, 0.1 to 70, 0.1 to 50, 0.1 to 40, 2 to 99, 2 to 90, 2 to 80, 2 to 70, 2 to 50, 2 to 40, 20 to 100, 20 to 90, 20 to 80, 20 to 70, 20 to 50, or 20 to 40 mass% of the hydrocracking catalyst.

16. The hydrocracking catalyst according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the inorganic oxide component is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, silica-alumina, alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina, silica-alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina-boria, phosphorus-alumina-silica, silica-alumina-titania, silica-alumina-zirconia, alumina-zirconia-titania, phosphorus-alumina-zirconia, alumina-zirconia-titania, and phosphorus-alumina-titania.

17. The hydrocracking catalyst according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the inorganic oxide component comprises alumina.

18. The hydrocracking catalyst according to claim 17, wherein the crystalline microporous material comprises FAU zeolite.

19. The hydrocracking catalyst according to claim 18, wherein the active metal component comprises one or more of Mo, W, Co, or Ni (oxide or sulfide).

20. The hydrocracking catalyst according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the active metal component contains one or more metals selected from Groups 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of the IUPAC periodic table of the elements.

21. A method for hydrocracking a hydrocarbon oil, comprising a step of hydrocracking the hydrocarbon oil with the hydrocracking catalyst according to any one of claims 14 to 20.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the hydrocarbon oil contains a recycle stream obtained from hydrocracking of VGO, straight-run VGO, or pretreated straight-run VGO, depending on the selectivity for naphtha and middle distillates adjusted as a function of the cubic-symmetric mesophase.

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