Patent ID: 8486369

Claim:
A method of forming a material comprising at least one mesoporous zeolite, said method comprising the steps of: (a) acid washing a non-mesoporous initial zeolite with an acidic medium thereby forming an acid-washed zeolite, wherein said initial zeolite has a total silicon-to-aluminum ratio (Si/Al) of less than 30, wherein said initial zeolite has an extra-framework aluminum content from 25-100%, wherein said acid washing of step (a) removes aluminum atoms from said initial zeolite such that said acid-washed zeolite has a higher Si/Al ratio than said initial zeolite; and (b) subsequent to step (a), contacting said acid-washed zeolite with a mesopore-forming medium different than said acidic medium, thereby forming at least one mesopore within said acid washed zeolite and providing said mesoporous zeolite.