Process for preparing a zeolitic material having framework type AEI

1. A process for preparing a zeolite material comprising a zeolite having an AEI framework and a framework structure comprising a tetravalent element Y, a trivalent element X, and O and a zeolite having a GME or AFI framework, the process comprising:

(i) preparing a synthesis mixture comprising water, a source of Y, a source of X, an AEI framework structure directing agent, and a source of sodium, wherein the source of Y and/or the source of X comprise sodium;

(ii) heating the synthesis mixture under autogenous pressure to a temperature ranging from 100° C. to 180° C. for at least 6 h, obtaining the zeolite material comprising the zeolite having an AEI framework and a framework structure comprising a tetravalent element Y, a trivalent element X, and O, and the zeolite having a GME or AFI framework, comprised in its mother liquor;

wherein the source of Y and the source of X contribute a total of at least 50 weight-% of elemental sodium in the synthesis mixture prepared in (i);

wherein Y is one or more of Si, Ge, S, Ti, and Zr;

wherein X is one or more of Al,

wherein the source of X comprises a sodium aluminate,

wherein in the synthesis mixture prepared in (i), the synthesis mixture is characterized by a molar ratio of the source of Y, calculated as YO 2 , relative to the source of X, calculated as X 2 O 3 , ranging from 5:1 to 25:1, a molar ratio of the source of Y, calculated as YO 2 , relative to the AEI framework structure directing agent ranging from 1:1 to 10:1, and a molar ratio of the source of Y, calculated as YO 2 , relative to the water ranging from 0.01:1 to 1:1.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the source of Y and the source of X contribute a total of at least 75 weight-% of elemental sodium in the synthesis mixture prepared in (i).

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein in the synthesis of mixture prepared in (i), the source of sodium is the source of X and the source of Y does not comprise sodium, or the source of sodium is the source of Y and the source of X.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein Y comprises Si.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the source of Y comprises a sodium silicate having the formula (Na 2 SiO 2 ) n O wherein n is an integer.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein in the synthesis mixture obtained from (i) in (ii), the synthesis mixture is heated to a temperature ranging from 140° C. to 160° C. or 100° C. to 140° C.

7. The process of claim 1 , further comprising

(iv) cooling the mixture obtained from (ii); and

(iv) separating the zeolite material from the obtained mixture.

8. The process of claim 7 , further comprising contacting the zeolite material with a solution comprising ammonium ions to obtain an ammonium form zeolitic material.

9. The process of claim 7 , further comprising supporting a metal M on the zeolite material, and wherein the metal M is a transition metal of groups 7 to 12 of the periodic system of elements.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein supporting a metal M on the zeolite material comprises heating a mixture comprising the zeolite material, a source of the metal M, a solvent for the source of the metal M, and optionally an acid to a temperature ranging from 30° C. to 90° C.; and separating a zeolite material comprising the metal M from the mixture.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the metal M is supported on the zeolite material in an amount ranging from 1 weight-% to 11 weight-% calculated as MO and based on the total weight of the zeolitic material.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the zeolite having an AEI framework and a framework structure comprising a tetravalent element Y, a trivalent element X, and O is characterized by one or more of:

(1) a BET specific surface area ranging from 200 m 2 /g to 340 m 2 /g;

(2) a crystallinity of at least 60% determined by X-Ray Diffraction analysis;

(3) a Langmuir surface area ranging from 290 m 2 /g to 430 m 2 /g determined according to DIN 66131.