Zeolite monolith and method of making the same, composite with zeolite monolith and method of making the same, and method for incorporating two or more zeolite monoliths

1. A method of manufacturing a porous monolithic zeolite structure including the steps of:

(a) taking a porous monolithic substrate;

(b) forming one or more zeolites on the substrate; and

(c) substantially or completely removing said substrate.

2. The method according to claim 1 , in which, prior to step (b), the monolithic substrate is coated with one or more coating substances to provide a support layer which acts as a reinforcing layer on the zeolite after step (c) has been performed.

3. The method according to claim 2 , in which the support/reinforcing layer is at least one of silica, alumina, a clay, an alumina-silicate, or carbon from the substrate and can in addition to the support/reinforcing layer also include a carbon containing precursor carbonized to form a barrier layer between the support layer and the zeolite.

4. The method according to claim 1 , in which the porous monolithic substrate is composed of silicate from a colloidal silica precursor.

5. The method according to claim 1 , in which the zeolite formed on the monolithic substrate is formed at a loading of at least 8% by weight by allowing the zeolite to gravity deposit and dry onto the substrate as a film, such that the zeolite film itself is the reinforcing layer.

6. The method according to claim 1 , whereby two or more zeolites are combined in one monolithic structure, or whereby at least two zeolites are formed on a monolithic porous carbon or silica substrate.

7. The method according to claim 1 , in which at least one zeolite is formed in the pores of the substrate, and at least one zeolite is formed elsewhere in the substrate.

8. The method according to claim 7 , in which the zeolite formed in the pores of the substrate is one of zeolite H-Sod, zeolite A, faujasite, MFI and ZK5, and the other zeolite formed elsewhere on the substrate is one of H-Sod, zeolite A, faujasite, MFI and ZK5.

9. The method according to claim 1 , in which a solution containing aluminum is reacted with a solution containing silicon producing a zeolite by a hydrothermal or sol-gel reaction.

10. The method according to claim 6 , in which the at least two zeolites in the composite monolith material can be electrically heated, using the resistivity of the carbon, to desorb gases adsorbed onto the zeolite within the carbon structure, in order to assess the gases adsorbed or regenerate the two zeolite/carbon monolith in-situ.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zeolite structure has adsorbent and/or catalytic properties, and wherein inhibited fluid transport through the zeolite is prohibited.