Development on hydrophobic modification of aluminosilicate and titanosilicate zeolite molecular sieves

Abstract Aluminosilicate and titanosilicate molecular sieves have been extensively studied due to their unique catalytic properties, but sometimes the water molecules existing in reagents, reaction mediums or products, have negative effects on the activity and life of catalysts. Now hydrophobic catalysts can overcome the disadvantages by avoiding the loading of active sites by water molecules. Interestingly, the surface of aluminosilicate and titanosilicate molecular sieves contains a large amount of hydrophilic Si−OH, which is not conducive to the progress of the catalytic reactions in the presence of water molecules. Therefore, hydrophobic modification of molecular sieves has become a new research hotspot. The relevant modification methods and applications of hydrophobic catalysts are reviewed in this contribution. These advances in the preparation and application of hydrophobic catalysts indicate greater prospects for future research in chemical industry.