Method

1. A method for preparing a modified molecular sieve, which method comprises reacting a crystalline small pore molecular sieve or large pore molecular sieve with an aminosilane, wherein the reaction is carried out in an aqueous solvent and wherein the aqueous solvent comprises water in an amount of at least 10% by volume, wherein the small pore molecular sieve is a crystalline molecular sieve having a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms, and the large pore molecular sieve is a crystalline molecular sieve having a maximum ring size of twelve tetrahedral atoms.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solvent comprises water in an amount of at least 25% by volume.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crystalline molecular sieve has an aluminosilicate framework, an aluminophosphate framework, a silicoaluminophosphate framework, a metal-substituted aluminosilicate framework, a metal-loaded aluminophosphate framework, or a metal-loaded silicoaluminophosphate framework.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the crystalline molecular sieve is a metal-loaded molecular sieve having an aluminosilicate framework and the loaded metal comprises copper, palladium, platinum, or mixtures thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crystalline molecular sieve is a small pore molecular sieve and has a Framework Type selected from the group consisting of ACO, AEI, AEN, AFN, AFT, AFX, ANA, APC, APD, ATT, CDO, CHA, DDR, DFT, EAB, EDI, EPI, ERI, GIS, GOO, IHW, ITE, ITW, LEV, KFI, MER, MON, NSI, OWE, PAU, PHI, RHO, RTH, SAT, SAV, SIV, THO, TSC, UEI, UFI, VNI, YUG, ZON and a mixture or intergrowth of any two or more thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the small pore molecular sieve has a Framework Type that is AEI, AFX or CHA.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crystalline molecular sieve has an aluminosilicate framework or a metal-loaded aluminosilicate framework and a silica to alumina molar ratio of 10 to 200.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aminosilane has the general formula:

wherein

R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently selected from the list consisting of H and OR 4 ;

R 4 =H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, or an amine protecting group;

R 5 , and R 6 are each independently selected from the list consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or acyl; and

n=0 to 12.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein R 2 and R 3 are each independently OR 4 .

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein R 5 and R 6 are each H.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aminosilane is 3-aminopropylsilane hydrolysate.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solvent consists essentially of water.

13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of adjusting the pH of the reaction mixture.

14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of reacting the modified molecular sieve with a functional polymer.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the functional polymer comprises one or more of the following functional groups: acrylate, methacrylate, phosphate, or OR 7 , wherein R 7 =H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or acyl.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the functional polymer comprises acrylate functional groups.

17. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of reacting the modified molecular sieve with a base metal, a platinum group metal, or a salt or oxide thereof.

18. A modified molecular sieve obtainable by the method of claim 1 .

19. A method of forming a catalyst article, said method comprising:

i) coating a substrate with a washcoat comprising a modified molecular sieve according to claim 18 ; and

ii) drying and/or calcining the coated substrate.

20. A catalyst article obtained or obtainable by the method of claim 19 .

21. A method of treating an exhaust gas comprising contacting the exhaust gas with a catalyst article according to claim 20 .

22. A method for forming a catalyst article comprising the steps of:

a) reacting a crystalline molecular sieve with an aminosilane in an aqueous solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 10% by volume to form a modified molecular sieve;

b) coating a substrate with a washcoat comprising the modified molecular sieve; and

c) drying and/or calcining the coated substrate.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein in step (a) the aqueous solvent comprises water in an amount at least 25% by volume.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein in step (a) the aqueous solvent consists essentially of water.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein in step (a) the crystalline molecular sieve is a metal-loaded molecular sieve having an aluminosilicate framework and the loaded metal comprises copper, palladium, platinum, or mixtures thereof.

26. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the crystalline molecular sieve is a small pore molecular sieve having a Framework Type that is AEI, AFX or CHA.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein in step (a) the aminosilane has the general formula:

wherein

R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are each independently selected from the list consisting of H and OR 4 ;

R 4 =H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, acyl, or an amine protecting group;

R 5 , and R 6 are each independently selected from the list consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or acyl; and

n=0 to 12.

28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the aminosilane is 3-aminopropylsilane hydrolysate.