International Zeolite Association

Welcome to the IZA Website

The International Zeolite Association (IZA) was organized in 1973 at the 3rd International Molecular Sieve Conference to promote and encourage the development of all aspects of zeolite science and technology.

Latest News

9-Aug-21

9th International Zeolite Membrane Meeting (IZMM) - Postponed

The 9th International Zeolite Membrane Meeting (IZMM) will be held in Nanjing, China but was postponed from 2022 to 2023. The decision was made due to the current covid-19 pandemic situation and the rules of travelling around the world which are, currently, uncertain. The organizers evaluate that because IZMM is a very specialized conference, a face-to-face meeting would be better for communication. The situation will be re-evaluated by the middle of 2022. IZMM2023 will be virtual if the restriction on travelling is still operative at that time.

1-Mar-21

The natural counterpart of zeolite A (LTA-type) discovered

A team of Colombian, Spanish and British scientists led by Carlos Alberto Ríos-Reyes has described the first occurrence of zeolite A in nature (Crystals, https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11020218).
According to the authors, Na–A zeolite and associated mineral phases such as sodalite were formed by high diagenesis processes, temperatures around 80-100 °C and weathering contributions. These conditions allowed the geochemical remobilization and/or recrystallization of pre-existing silica, muscovite, kaolinite minerals group, salts, carbonates, oxides and peroxides. Scanning electron micrographs show the typical cubic morphology of Na–A zeolite with a particle size of approximately 0.45 µm. A literature review shows that this is an unusual example for the occurrence of natural zeolites in sedimentary marine rocks recognized around the world.

1-Mar-21

Michael Stöcker becomes a Member of the Slovenian Academy of Engineering Sciences

The General Assembly of the Slovenian Academy of Engineering Sciences has elected Michael Stöcker as an International Member of the Academy on February 23, 2021, following the nominations passed on by the Section for Scientific Research as well as the Section for International Relations. The solemn inauguration ceremony is scheduled for autumn this year in Brdo pri Kranju (close to Ljubljana), Slovenia.
Congratulations for this great honor go to Michael Stöcker, who has served the international zeolite community for many years particularly as Editor-in-Chief of our journal Microporous and Mesoporous Materials and has been elected as honorary member of IZA.

4-Dec-20

Herman van Bekkum (1932 - 2020)

We received the very sad news that Em. Prof. Dr. ir. Herman van Bekkum, who was one of the founders of the Dutch Zeolite Association (DZA) and the first President of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA), passed away on November 30, 2020.
Herman van Bekkum was born in 1932 in Rotterdam. He graduated in chemical technology (1956) with Prof. Verkade and then obtained his Ph.D. (1959) with Prof. Wepster at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft, back then TH Delft). After working for two years as a researcher at Shell, he returned to the TU Delft in 1961 with a position as Lecturer. In 1971, he was appointed as Professor in Organic Chemistry and Catalysis. From 1975 to 1976 he served as Rector Magnificus of the TU Delft. Through the years he covered other important positions, including Chairman of the KNCV (Royal Netherlands Chemical Society) and Chairman of the Innovative Carbohydrates Research Program. In 1995 he was elected Member of the KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences). In 1991 he was appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion and in 2007 Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
His research focused on two main topics: zeolites and carbohydrate chemistry, with an overarching interest for catalytic conversion of organic compounds. We all remember him for his scientific qualities and his liveliness and enthusiasm in participating in scientific discussions, also for many years after his official retirement in 1998. People who met him at the TU Delft would certainly remember his availability in providing useful scientific advice to young researchers that knocked at the door of his office, which had a table covered with books, papers and models of zeolite structures that proved his never-ending enthusiasm for his research. He was also a familiar and welcome presence at the Netherlands’ Catalysis and Chemistry Conference, which he regularly attended until recent years. People that met him and talked with him would remember not only the brilliant scientist but also a person with many other passions and with whom the conversation was always enriching, regardless whether the topic was a zeolite framework, his Alfa Romeo or playing chess.
In this sad moment our thoughts go out to the family of Prof. Herman van Bekkum. His memory will remain with us and hopefully we will be able to pass what we learnt from him to the next generations.
On behalf of the Dutch Zeolite Association and of the Dutch Catalysis Society,
Prof. Dr. Paolo P. Pescarmona

16-Oct-20

Klaus Unger (1936 – 2020)

Our friend and colleague Klaus Unger passed away after a short illness on October 7th 2020. We have lost an excellent scientist, a wonderful mentor, a dear friend, in short: a true “Mensch”.
Klaus was highly successful in two rather separate fields of science, in zeolite science and in chromatography, both connected by his deep interest in porous materials. His early work on innovative silica-based stationary phases for chromatography led him to broaden his interest to zeolites and later on to ordered mesoporous materials. His science was always characterized by the combination of a deep understanding of the fundamentals of the materials he worked on and a keen eye for practical applications. He was therefore always a sought-after partner for industrial companies, and his many decade long relationships to Merck at Darmstadt, only a few kilometres away from his home in Seeheim-Jugenheim, testifies of the importance of his research also for industry. Klaus loved the area, with the vineyards of the Rheingau, the Odenwald, and the Spessart close by for extended hikes. So after his habilitation inrmstadt, he only moved across the Rhine to Mainz to become a professor for Analytical Chemistry, and stayed with Mainz University until his retirement in 2001.
Klaus had colleagues and friends basically anywhere in the world, and all of them enjoyed him as a partner for scientific collaborations and beyond. He has served on IUPAC committees for the characterization of porous solids, he co-initiated a number of high profile conference series, and he was always active in various scientific organization, such as the IZA, the German Fachgruppe Zeolithe (DECHEMA), or the Arbeitskreis Chromatographie of the Fachgruppe Analytische Chemie of the German Society for Chemistry (GDCh). He was one of the founding members of Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA) as the chairman of the German Zeolite Association at that time, and served as the first treasurer. Born in Zwickau, which was for about 40 years part of East Germany, he always kept links to the colleagues in the former GDR also during the separation of the two countries, and after Germany’s reunification, he played a very active role in helping to re-integrate the science between East and West Germany in the field of porous materials and separation science.
Prof. Unger was loved by his students and coworkers. They enjoyed scientific freedom, support wherever it was needed, and the overall very warm, welcoming and extremely friendly atmosphere in the group. Within hours after the news of his passing away spread, there were dozens of emails expressing the sadness of his former co-workers, and one quote from the mails stands for all of them: “one of a kind with the biggest generous heart”. This is how we all feel – it was a privilege to have known Klaus, and the zeolite community will miss him dearly from now on.

14-Sep-19

Jens Weitkamp (1942 - 2019)

Professor Dr.-Ing. Jens Weitkamp, the former director of the Institute of Chemical Technology of the University of Stuttgart passed away in Paris on August 25, 2019, the same town in which he was born on June 5, 1942. Jens Weitkamp studied chemistry at the Universities of Berlin and Karlsruhe. In 1971 he completed his doctoral studies under the supervision of Professor Dr. H. Pichler and his habilitation a few years later at the Engler-Bunte Institute of the University of Karlsruhe with Prof. Dr. K. Hedden. In 1986, Jens Weitkamp became Professor of Chemical Technology at the University of Oldenburg. In 1988 he took over a Full Professor position for Chemical Technology at the University of Stuttgart.
High quality research on upgrading of crude oil and natural gas as well as petrochemistry has determined the scientific life of Jens Weitkamp and he has advanced these fields to a very large extent. Examples are refinery processes like cracking, hydrocracking, isomerisation, alkylation, reforming and demetallization as well as petrochemical reactions like alkylation of aromatics, transalkylation and epoxidation. Jens Weitkamp has advanced our understanding of zeolites and porous materials significantly.
In his service to the International Zeolite Association, he served on the IZA council from 1994 till 2001 acting as the vice-president from 1994 to 1997 and the president from 1997 to 2001. He also served as the Chairman of the 10th International Zeolite Conference (IZC), held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1994. In 1993, Jens Weitkamp founded the scientific journal “Microporous Materials”, which he edited until the merger with “Zeolites” in 1997. From 1998 to 2003 he edited the new scientific journal “Microporous and Mesoporous Materials” as Editor-in-Chief, which became the leading journal within the field of zeolites and porous materials. Jens Weitkamp received a number of highly ranked recognitions among them are the Alwin-Mittasch-Prize of the DECHEMA (2010) and the Carl-Engler Medal (2002) of the German Society for Petroleum and Coal Science and Technology (DGMK). He became Corresponding Member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in 2003.
The scientific community devoted to the research of zeolites, porous materials and heterogeneous catalysis shows great respect for the lifetime achievement of Jens Weitkamp and we regret the loss of this excellent scientist, teacher and human being. We will keep him in our memories. Our thoughts go to Sophie, his companion for the last ten years.

24-Aug-19

Michael Stöcker received the Award of National Institute of Chemistry (Slovenia)

Dr. Michael Stöcker received the Award of National Institute of Chemistry (Ljubljana, Slovenia) for his contribution to the research in Slovenia during the last 25 years. The Award was given during a solemn prize ceremony with the presence of the Secretary of State for Science and Research - Slovenia (Dr. Jerney Strmayer), the Rector of the University of Ljubljana (Prof. Igor Papic), the Director of the National Institute of Chemistry - Slovenia (Prof. Gregor Anderluh), the President of the Scientific Council of the National Institute of Chemistry - Slovenia (Prof. Miran Gaberscek) as well as the German Vice-Ambassador to Slovenia (Hon Peter Lange).

News from the IZC-19 in Perth

31-Jul-19

Seven new Council members were elected:

Tina Düren (UK)
Zhongmin Liu (China)
Svetlana Mintova (France)
Masaru Ogura (Japan)
Yong Ki Park (Korea)
Jeffrey Rimer (USA)
Michael Stockenhuber (Australia)

The new executive committee of the IZA council is:

Martin Hartmann, President
Zhongmin Liu, Vice-President
Heloise Pastore, Secretary
Jeffery Rimer, Treasurer

International Zeolite Conference (IZC)

At a Business Meeting, the IZA Board selected the venue for the 22nd IZC in 2025:
Dalian, China

The next IZC will be held in 2022 in Valencia, Spain.

IZA Awards

IZA Honorary Memberships were given to:

Christian Baerlocher
of the ETH, Zurich, Switzerland
for the renowned contribution to the structural chemistry of zeolites and for the devoted service to the design and maintenance of the Database of Zeolite Structure.

Giuseppe Bellussi
Eni SpA, Italy
for the outstanding contribution to zeolite science and technology and for the great service as President of the IZA.

Takashi Tatsumi
of the Tokyo University of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
for the outstanding contribution to zeolite synthesis and catalysis and for the dissemination of zeolite science.

The new IZA Ambassador, the recepient of the 2019 IZA award is:

Wilhelm Schwieger
of the University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
for important contributions to zeolite science and technology resulting in commercial applications of zeolites.

The first Young Researcher Award (YRA) of the Iinteranational Zeolite Association has been attributed to:

Manuel Moliner
of the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ), Valencia, Spain
for novel synthesis methods to obtain nanosized zeolites and to control active sites distribution in zeolite catalysts.

The award is sponsored by ExxonMobil

The 2019 Don Breck Award has been attributed to the team:

Stephen K. Brand, Joel E. Schmidt, Michael W. Deem, Frits Daeyaer, Yanhang Ma, Osamu Terasaki, Marat Orazov, Mark E. Davis

for the discovery of enantiomerically enriched STW zeolite.

2019_Awardees

The IZA president Valentin Valtchev (middle) with Manuel Moliner (left) recipient of the Yong researcher award and Mark Davis (right) recipient of the 2019 Don Breck Award.

20-Jun-19

Alberto Alberti (1938 - 2019)

Alberto Alberti suddenly passed away on June 7th, 2019, two days from his 81st birthday. Alberto has been a major pillar of the community of natural zeolites and of crystallography of zeolites. Called by Glauco Gottardi to the Institute of Mineralogy of the University of Modena in 1966, he was an early developer of modern treatment of crystallographic data. He moved in 1986 to the University of Sassari and in 1989 to the University of Ferrara, where he started a successful school of crystallography.
In the field of natural zeolites, his name is connected to the discovery and structural refinement of a number of new minerals, from barrerite to gottardiite, terranovaite and mutinaite. Throughout his career, he built bridges between the communities of natural and synthetic zeolites, showing the structural identity of many synthetic zeolites and their natural analogs. He brought fundamental contributions to the crystallochemistry of zeolites, shedding new light on the mechanisms of reconstructive phase transitions and of mobility of cations and acidic protons, improving the understanding of the properties of zeolites and aluminophosphates.
His dedication to the zeolite community motivated his active participation to the instances of the International Zeolite Association, the International Mineralogical Association and the Associazione Italiana Zeoliti. The number of students who have been induced by his example to endeavour careers in research and teaching is the best witness of his capacity of transmitting his passionate love for science. The colleagues and students of Alberto will fondly remember his kindness, his human warmth and his commitment to help alleviating any human suffering.

7-Feb-19

Harry Edwin Robson (1927 - 2019)

It is with great sadness that we must report that Dr. Robson, a former employee of Exxon and renowned expert in zeolite synthesis, passed away on January 18, 2019.
Harry Edwin Robson was born on 19, 1927 near Burlington, USA. He earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry in Kansas University. He moved to Baton Rouge in 1957 to join the research lab at Esso (later Exxon), remaining there until his first retirement in 1986. He spent the next six years consulting in the chemical industry and teaching at LSU. He was a pioneer in the field of zeolite synthesis, and he was instrumental in the formation of the International Zeolite Association. With his colleagues, he compiled and edited three books on zeolite synthesis.
The zeolite community and in particular the synthetic chemists will continue to enjoy his legacy for many years to come.

4-Feb-19

Stefan Ernst (1960 - 2019)

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Professor Stefan Ernst. This is truly a loss for the worldwide community of chemical technology and zeolite science in particular. Stefan Ernst studied Chemical Engineering in Karlsruhe, obtained his Ph.D. in Oldenburg with Jens Weitkamp and finished his habilitation at the University of Stuttgart. Since 1997, he has been Professor of Chemical Technology at TU Kaiserslautern.
Stefan Ernst is known as one of the pioneers of zeolite science in Germany. He has made outstanding contributions to the synthesis of zeolites and their application in industrial catalysis. A landmark example is the synthesis of phase-pure ZSM-20 in 1987. Moreover, he introduced the spaciousness index to characterize the effective pore width of bifunctional zeolites via a catalytic test reaction. Stefan published more than 150 papers in particular on zeolite-based ship in the bottle catalysts as well as hydrocarbon isomerization and cracking. He established ethylbenzene disproportionation as a standard reaction for the characterization of acid zeolites.
Moreover, Stefan was closely connected with scientific organizations such as DECHEMA, the German Zeolite Association and the German Catalysis Society. He served on the board of the International Zeolite Association (IZA) und was chair of its catalysis commission. He organized and contributed to many national and international conferences in the fields of zeolites and petrochemistry.
Whenever we met him, we could feel his passion for zeolites and catalysis. His large profound knowledge and friendly encouragement made him a well-respected advisor for students, co-workers, colleagues and industrial partners. We will certainly memorize his ability of networking and connecting people across regions, cultures, faculties and generations. His unselfishness, kindness, strong support and knowledgeable advice will surely be missed by the zeolite community.

17-Dec-18

News from the IZA board: a Young Researcher Award established

The IZA established a Young Researcher Award with the objective to recognize the young active researcher for outstanding contribution to the Science and Technology of zeolites and related nanoporous materials.
The award, a plaque, will be given to an individual not a group, during the banquet of the International Zeolite Conference. The sponsorship, in the amount of $ 10000, is assumed by ExxonMobil and presented at each IZC conference. A representative of ExxonMobil will personally hand over the award and congratulate the winner.
The first award Young Researcher Award will be given during the 19th IZC in Perth, Australia.
More information can be found in the IZA protocole for the Young Researcher Award.

22-Nov-18

Nominations for the 2019 Donald W. Breck Award invited

The Breck Award nomination committee invites nominations for the 2019 Donald W. Breck Award. This award is for the most significant contribution to Molecular Sieve Science and Technology made between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 and the winner will be announced on July 11, 2019 at the 19th IZC in Perth, Australia.

The award may be given to an individual or to a group.

The nomination should be accompanied by a list of references and a 2 page summary outlining in detail the novel findings and their scientific merit. It must be endorsed by five established zeolite scientists.

Nominations should be sent by March 1, 2019 to the Chair of the Breck Award Committee:
Dr. Stacey Zones
Chevron Energy Technology Company
E-mail: SIZO@chevron.com

1-Nov-18

News from the MOF commission

We are soliciting nominations for at least four new positions on the International Zeolite Association Commission on Metal-Organic Frameworks (http://www.iza-online.org/MOF/). A vote will be held amongst delegates at the MOF2018 conference, and the successful candidates announced at this meeting. If you are interested in this role, or know a colleague who may be interested, please email the Commission chair Russell Morris (rem1@st-andrews.ac.uk). Russell may also be contacted for further information about the process or the role.

6-Oct-18

Proposals for the organization of the 21st International Zeolite Conference

The IZA Executive Council is soliciting proposals for organizing the 21st IZC to be held in 2025. A proposal should contain sufficient detail, including the specific proposed conference location, to permit a reasonable evaluation of its merits, and must contain the name of a person who agrees to become the Conference Organizer, if the IZA council would select the proposal. The time schedule for this process is shown schematically below.

Selection of the venue for the 21^st IZC:

A	B	C	19th IZC July 7-12 2019
	2 months	2 months	2 months
Letter of Interest	Applicants fill in questionnaire	Council preselects best bids	Applicants prepare presentaion

A: Those who plan to submit a bid for the 21st IZC should send a letter of intent to the IZA President (valentin.valtchev@ensicaen.fr) or the IZA Secretary (lolly@iqm.unicamp.br) at least six months before the 19th IZC. It should contain the name of the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, the Members of the Organizing Committee and the envisaged venue and date for the 21st IZC. The Organizing Committee is expected to include well-established academics in the field of zeolite-type materials. Upon receipt of the letter of intent, the Secretary shall send the detailed questionnaire "Proposal for the Organization of the 21st IZC to be held in 2025” to the applicant.

B: This questionnaire, properly filled in and signed, must be received by the President and Secretary at least four months before the 19th IZC. All bids received by this date are distributed to the IZA Council members.

C: The Council will finalize the pre-selection two months before the 19th IZC. The IZA President will notify all those who submitted bid(s) of the outcome of the pre-selection and the date for the presentation to the IZA Council. This gives the successful applicants two months to prepare their presentations for the Business Meeting at the 19th IZC. At the IZA Council meeting, after the presentations of the pre-selected proposals, the IZA Council will vote for the selection of the final winner. The winner will be announced at the closing Business Meeting at the 19th IZC.

13-Apr-18

Garcia Martinez receives the Kathyrin Hach Award (ACS entrepreneurship award)

The 2018 entrepreneurship ward of the American Chemical Society was attributed to Prof. Javier Garcia-Martinez (Rive Technology) for the commercialization of mesoporous zeolites.

Congratulations from the IZA to our esteemed colleague!

9-Apr-18

Jiři Čejka receives the Werner von Siemens Award

Prof. Jiři Čejka and his group received the prestigious Werner von Siemens Award (Czech Republic) for their work on the ADOR chemistry.

Congratulations from the IZA to Jiři Čejka and his group!

23-Dec-17

News from the MOF Commission

The MOF commission of the IZA would like to solicit bids to host the 7th International MOF meeting, which is scheduled to take place in 2020. The deadline for bids will be October 1st, 2018 and the decision will be made during the 6th International MOF meeting to be held in December 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. Further information on what is required for a bid can be found by clicking here. The required documentation should be e-mailed to Russell Morris (rem1@st-andrews.ac.uk) by the above date.

17-Nov-17

News from the Natural Zeolites Commission

A comprehensive report on the sedimentary zeolites of Cuba is posted on the Natural Zeolite Commission website.

click here for earlier announcements

Links to the IZA Commission Websites

Structure	Catalysis	Synthesis	MOFs	Natural Zeolites

last updated: 11-February-2020