Synthesis of AlPO4 Molecular Sieves with AFI and AEL Structures by Dry-Gel Conversion Method and Catalytic Application of Their SAPO Counterparts on Isopropylation of Biphenyl

AlPO₄-5 and AlPO₄-11 were synthesized by dry-gel conversion (DGC) method. Steam-assisted conversion (SAC) and vapor-phase transport (VPT) techniques were applied for this purpose. The synthesis was successful in presence of a certain minimum amount of external bulk water, without which the crystallization failed. Crystallization by VPT method was slower than corresponding SAC and HTS method. SAPO analogs of the samples, SAPO-5 and SAPO-11 were also synthesized by DGC method. Samples made by DGC methods had higher yield than the conventional hydrothermal synthesis (HTS); otherwise the samples showed similar characteristics as that made by HTS. XRD, SEM and N₂-adsorption results showed high crystallinity and purity of the samples made by DGC, and ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectra indicated the tetrahedral framework nature of Al. SAPO-5 and SAPO-11 were tested for their catalytic activity in isopropylation of biphenyl, and in terms of conversion and selectivity, SAPO-5 was found to be suitable for this application.