Method of preparing an STT-type zeolite for use as a catalyst in selective catalytic reduction reactions

1. A method for preparing a metal containing catalyst that includes a crystalline STT-type zeolite having a mole ratio of an oxide of a tetravalent element to an oxide of a trivalent element between 10:1 and 30:1, said method comprising:

forming an aqueous reaction mixture comprising a source of the oxide of tetravalent element; a source of the oxide of the trivalent element; a source of alkali metal; an organic structure directing agent comprising N,N,N-trimethyl-1-adamantammonium hydroxide;

stirring the aqueous reaction mixture to form a homogeneous aqueous slurry;

subjecting the homogeneous aqueous slurry to crystallization conditions that include heating the slurry under pressure at a temperature between 150° C. and 160° C. for a period of 4 to 7 days;

maintaining the homogeneous aqueous slurry under crystallization conditions sufficient to crystallize crystals of the STT-type zeolite having an x-ray diffraction pattern with 2 theta peaks at: 8.26, 8.58, 9.28, 9.54, 10.58, 14.52, 15.60, 16.43, 17.13, 17.74, 18.08, 18.46, 19.01, 19.70, 20.12, 20.38, 20.68, 21.10, 21.56, 22.20, 22.50, 22.78, 23.36, 23.76, 23.99, 24.54, 24.92, 25.16, 25.58, 25.80, 26.12, 26.94, 27.38, 27.92, 28.30, 28.60, 29.24, 29.48, 30.08, 30.64, 31.20, 31.46, 31.80, 32.02, 32.60, 33.60, and 34.43;

recovering the STT-type zeolite crystals;

dealuminating the STT-type zeolite with nitric acid;

impregnating or ion-exchanging the dealuminated STT-type zeolite with an aqueous metal salt solution; and

incorporating a metal selected as one from the group of Cu, Fe, Co, Zr, Ti, or a mixture thereof into the framework sites of dealuminated STT-type zeolite to form a metal-containing catalyst.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recovered STT-type zeolite is SSZ-23.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing catalyst is characterized by ammonia temperature desorption and n-propylamine temperature desorption to exhibit catalytic activity equivalent to a metal-containing SSZ-23 zeolite.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal present in the metal-containing catalyst ranges from 0.3 to 10.0%, based on the total weight of the metal-containing catalyst.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal-containing catalyst is hydrothermally aged; the hydrothermally aged catalyst capable of both ammonia temperature desorption and n-propylamine temperature desorption.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of incorporating the metal in to the framework of the dealuminated zeolite is accomplished by ion-exchange with the amount of Cu, Fe, Co, Zr, or Ti metal being sufficient to maintain NOx conversion performance in an exhaust gas stream containing nitrogen oxides.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the NOx conversion performance of the freshly prepared metal-containing catalyst at about 200° C. is 72%.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the NOx conversion performance of the freshly prepared metal-containing catalyst at about 500° C. is 45%.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises depositing the metal-containing catalyst on to a honeycomb substrate, a metal substrate or an extruded substrate.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the STT-type zeolite has a particle size with D50 between about 0.1 to 50 micrometers.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the STT-type zeolite has strong acid sites stable up to a temperature of 600° C.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source of the tetravalent element is fumed silica with a water content of about 2 wt % and the source of trivalent element is aluminum tri-oxide.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a cation of the alkali metal balances the valence electrons charges in the crystalline STT-type zeolite.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the alkali metal cation is sodium derived from sodium hydroxide or potassium derived from potassium hydroxide.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is heated to a temperature of about 155° C.