Zeolites and their synthesis

Zeolite synthesis is an area of classical hydrothermal chemistry which has developed to a stage where generalizations are possible which may be considered coherently. A review is therefore made of some aspects of zeolitization giving it, firstly, its setting among other crystal growing procedures and its relation to pH and temperature among other minerals which can be made hydrothermally. Reactants and reaction variables involved in laboratory synthesis are described, among the latter notably the mineralizing role of OH−, structure directing effects of cations and organic bases, the influence of added salts and various history dependent effects. Finally an account has been given of nucleation and nucleation kinetics and crystal growth.