Group IIIB metallophosphates

Claim 2

Crystalline Group IIIB metallophosphates having a composition in terms of mole ratios of oxides in the synthesized state of: X(M'.sub.2 O):Y(M.sub.2 O.sub.3):Z(P.sub.2 O.sub.5):nH.sub.2 O (I) wherein M' is an alkali metal; M is a Group IIIB metal; x/y is a number from about 1.1 to about 1.9; z/y is a number from about 1 to about 1.9 n/y is a number from about 0 to about 8.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein said Group IIIB metal is selected from the group of scandium, yttrium, lanthanum and combinations thereof.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 2 wherein the Group IIIB metal is yttrium.

Claim 5

The crystalline matallophosphate of claim 3 characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction pattern observed with CuKα radiation and a scan of 3° to 50° θ of at least: ______________________________________ 16.0 ± 0.2 9.2 ± 0.2 7.9 ± 0.2 6.8 ± 0.1 5.45 ± 0.05 4.47 ± 0.05 4.49 ± 0.05 3.79 ± 0.03 3.69 ± 0.03 3.38 ± 0.03 3.17 ± 0.03 3.06 ± 0.03 2.99 ± 0.03 2.94 ± 0.02 2.86 ± 0.02 2.77 ± 0.02 2.72 ± 0.02 2.68 ± 0.02 ______________________________________

Claim 6

A process for preparing a crystalline Group IIIB metallophosphates having a composition in terms of mole ratio of oxides in the synthesized state of: X(M'.sub.2 O):Y(M.sub.2 O.sub.3):Z(P.sub.2 O.sub.5):nH.sub.2 O (I) wherein M' is an alkali metal; M is a Group IIIA metal; x/y is a number from about 1.1 to about 1.9; z/y is a number from about 1 to about 1.9 n/y is a number from about 0 to about 8, said process comprising wherein a source of phosphorus is added to a solution containing a Group IIIA metal source, stirring said solution, adding to said solution an alkali cation source to form a reaction mixture, heating said reaction mixture at a temperature of at least 70° C. under autogeneous pressure until crystals are formed, and recovering said crystals from said reaction mixture.

Claim 7

A process for preparing a crystalline Group IIIB metallophosphates having a composition in terms of mole ratio of oxides in the synthesized state of: X(M'.sub.2 O):Y(M.sub.2 O.sub.3):Z(P.sub.2 O.sub.5):nH.sub.2 O (I) wherein M' is an alkali metal; M is a Group IIIA metal; x/y is a number from about 1.1 to about 1.9; z/y is a number from about 1 to about 1.9 n/y is a number from about 0 to about 8, said process comprising wherein a source of phosphorus is added to a solution containing a Group IIIA metal source, stirring said solution, adding to said solution an alkali cation source to form a reaction mixture, heating said reaction mixture at a temperature of at least 70° C. under autogeneous pressure until crystals are formed, and recovering said crystals from said reaction mixture.

Claim 8

The process of claim 5 wherein the ratio of base to Group IIIB metal is from about 1 to about 12.

Claim 9

The process of claim 6 wherein said source of phosphorus is phosphoric acid, said Group IIIB metal source is in the form of a metal oxide and said alkali cation source is in the form of an alkali hydroxide.

Claim 10

The process of claim 7 wherein said Group IIIB metal is yttrium.

Claim 11

The process of claim 8 wherein said alkali cation is a sodium cation.

Claim 12

In a process for exchanging metal ions from one material to another material, the improvement comprising contacting a fluid exchange material containing metal ions with the metallophosphate of claim 1.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein said metallophosphate contains a metal selected from scandium, yttrium, lathanum or combinations thereof.

Claim 14

The process of claim 11 wherein said metal is yttrium.

Claim 15

The process of claim 10 wherein said metallophosphate is characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction pattern observed with CuKα radiation and a scan of 3° to 50° θ of at least: ______________________________________ 16.0 ± 0.2 9.2 ± 0.2 7.9 ± 0.2 6.8 ± 0.1 5.45 ± 0.05 4.47 ± 0.05 4.49 ± 0.05 3.79 ± 0.03 3.69 ± 0.03 3.38 ± 0.03 3.17 ± 0.03 3.06 ± 0.03 2.99 ± 0.03 2.94 ± 0.02 2.86 ± 0.02 2.77 ± 0.02 2.72 ± 0.02 2.68 ± 0.02 ______________________________________