Method for generating new faujasite zeolites

A process for treating a faujasite zeolite, the process comprising:

• treating a faujasite zeolite in a protonic or ammonium form with an acid, the faujasite zeolite having a unit cell size less than 24.58 Angstrom and a bulk Si/Al ratio less than 5 mol mol−1;
• and
• after treating the faujasite zeolite with the acid, treating the faujasite zeolite with a base to obtain a treated faujasite zeolite having a micropore volume greater than 0.18 mL g−1, a mesopore volume greater than 0.19 mL g−1, and an overall BET surface area greater than 600 m2 g−1,
• wherein:
• treating the faujasite zeolite with the acid comprises contacting the faujasite zeolite with a first aqueous solution, the first aqueous solution comprising at least one carboxylate-containing salt that is suitable to dissociate at least partially in the first aqueous solution into cations and anions, wherein:
• the concentration of the at least one carboxylate-containing salt in the first aqueous solution is from 0.25 mmol salt per gram of the faujasite zeolite to 10 mmol salt per gram of the faujasite zeolite;
• the anions are suitable to form multi-ligand complexes with aluminum;
• and
• 20 mol % to 90 mol % of the cations having a pK from −3 to 6 are protonic;
• treating the faujasites zeolite with the acid is performed at:
• a temperature from 25° C. to 100° C. over 0.5 hours to 24 hours;
• and
• a solid-to-liquid ratio, expressed in grams of the faujasite zeolite per liter of the first aqueous solution, of 10 g/L to 200 g/L;
• and
• the faujasite zeolite is contacted with the first aqueous solution by gradual addition, whereby the first aqueous solution is added to the faujasites zeolite at a rate of at most 0.25 mmol salt from the at least one carboxylate-containing salt in the first aqueous solution per gram of the faujasite zeolite per hour;
• and
• treating the faujasite zeolite with the base comprises contacting the faujasite zeolite with a basic aqueous solution having a pH greater than 7.