However, this method doesn't work for complete coverage of small 3D objects such as the spherical, zinc-galvanized, coated stainless steel, 0.5 mm diameter buckshot pellets used by Balkus and Scott. To evenly coat the pellets, Balkus and Scott devised a vibrating holder that elevates the metal balls into the UTD-1 plume. In situations where microcrystalline powders are impractical, such as in certain columns and reactors, coating 3D objects with uniform nanoporous films could be quite advantageous. Small 3D objects such as glass, metal or plastic beads can be coated with any zeolite film. Additionally, small extrudates or even crystals can be coated by the UT-Dallas process.
Molecular sieves can also be supports or host materials for homogeneous catalysts and enzymes.
Balkus and Scott have applications in various stages of the patent process but none relating to coating 3D objects have issued. They would like to license this technology and welcome inquiries in that regard. They were recently funded by the Petroleum Research Fund to study catalyst coatings by this process. Currently, one area of particular interest to the UT-Dallas team is perfecting a way to evenly coat zeolite crystals with one or more different zeolite layers. This has never been accomplished before.