This thesis aims to find out the effective diffusivity (Deff) of a porous material – γ-alumina, using an unsteady state method with two inert gases at ambient condition with no reactions. For porous materials, Deff is important because it determines the amount of reactants that transfers to the surface of pores. When Deff is known, the apparent tortuosity factor of γ-alumina is calculated using the parallel pore model. The apparent tortuosity factor is important because: (a) it can be used to back-calculate Deff at reacting conditions; (b) once Deff with reactions is known, the Thiele modulus can be calculated and hence the global reaction rate can be found; (c) apparent tortuosity factor is also important for modelling purposes (e.g. modelling a packed-bed column or a catalytic combustion reactor packed with porous γ-alumina in various shapes and monoliths). Experimental measurements were performed to determine the effective diffusivity of a binary pair of non-reacting gases (He in N2, and N2 in He) in spherical γ-alumina pellets (1 mm diameter), and in γ-alumina washcoated monoliths (washcoat thickness 20 to 60 µm, on 400 cpsi (cells per square inch) cordierite support). The method used is based on the chromatographic technique, where a gas flows through a tube, which is packed with the sample to be tested. A pulse of tracer gas is injected (e.g. using sample loops: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 ml) and by using an on-line mass spectrometer the response in the outlet of the packed bed is monitored over time. For the spherical pellets, the tube i.d. = 13.8 mm and the packed bed depths were 200 and 400 mm. For monoliths the tube i.d. = 7 mm and the packed lengths were 500 and 1000 mm. When the chromatographic technique was applied to the monoliths, it was observed that experimental errors can be significant, and it is very difficult to interpret the data. However, the technique worked well with the spherical pellets, and the effective diffusivity of He in N2 was 0.75 – 1.38 × 10-7 m2 s-1, and for N2 in He was 1.81 – 3.10 × 10-7 m2 s-1. Using the parallel pore model to back-calculate the apparent tortuosity factor, then a value between 5 to 9.5 was found for the pellets.

The synthesis and properties of metal phosphonates prepared using piperazine-based bisphosphonic acids have been investigated. The ligands N,N’-piperazinebis(methylenephosphonic acid) (H₄L), and the 2-methyl (H₄L-Me) and 2,5-dimethyl (H₄L 2,5-diMe) derivatives have been prepared using a modified Mannich reaction. Hydrothermal reaction of gels prepared from metal (II) acetates and the bisphosphonic acids results in the synthesis of four structures: STA-12, Ni VSB-5, Co H₂L.H₂O and Mg H₂L. STA-12, synthesised by reaction of Mn, Fe, Co or Ni acetate with H₄L or H₄L-Me, has been investigated further. STA-12 crystallises in the space group R⁻₃, and Ni STA-12 is the most crystalline version. Its structure was solved from synchrotron data (a = b = 27.8342(1) Å, c = 6.2421(3) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°), and it has large 10 Å hexagonal shaped pores. Helical chains of Ni octahedra are coordinated by the ligands, resulting in phosphonate tetrahedra pointing towards the pore space. Water is present, both coordinated to the Ni²⁺ cations and physically adsorbed in the pores. Mixed metal structures based on Ni STA-12, where some Ni is replaced in the gel by another divalent metal (Mg, Mn, Fe or Co) can also be synthesised. Dehydration of STA-12 results in two types of behaviour, depending on the metal present. Rhombohedral symmetry is retained on dehydration of Mn and Fe STA-12, the a cell parameter decreasing compared to the as-prepared structures by 2.42 Å and 1.64 Å respectively. Structure solution of dehydrated Mn STA-12 indicates changes in the torsion angles of the piperazine ring bring the inorganic chains closer together. Fe and Mn STA-12 do not adsorb N₂, which is thought to be due to the formation of an amorphous surface layer. Dehydration of Ni and Co STA-12 causes crystallographic distortion. Three phases were isolated for Ni STA-12: removal of physically adsorbed water results in retention of rhombohedral symmetry, while dehydration at 323 K removes some coordinated water forming a triclinic structure. A fully dehydrated structure (dehydrated at 423 K) was solved from synchrotron data (a = 6.03475(5) Å, b = 14.9156(2) Å, c = 16.1572(7) Å, α = 112.5721(7)°, β = 95.7025(11)°, γ = 96.4950(11)°). The dehydration mechanism, followed by UV-vis and Infra-red spectroscopy, involves removal of water from the Ni²⁺ cations and full coordination of two out of three of the phosphonate tetrahedra forming three crystallographically distinct Ni and P atoms. No structural distortion takes place on dehydration of Ni and Co STA-12 prepared using the methylated bisphosphonate, and the solids give a higher N₂ uptake as a result. Dehydrated Ni and Co STA-12 were tested for adsorption performance for fuel related gases and probe molecules. Investigations were undertaken at low temperature with H₂, CO and CO₂, and ambient temperature with CO₂, CH₄, CH₃CN, CH₃OH and large hydrocarbons. Due to the presence of lower crystallinity, Co STA-12 has an inferior adsorption performance to Ni STA-12, although it has similar adsorption enthalpies for CO₂ at ambient temperature (-30 to -35 kJ mol⁻¹). Ni STA-12 adsorbs similar amounts of CO₂ and N₂ at low temperature, indicating the adsorption mechanisms are similar. Also, it adsorbs 10 × more CO₂ than CH₄ at low pressure, meaning it could be used for separation applications. Ni STA-12 adsorbs 2 mmol g⁻¹ H₂ with an enthalpy of -7.5 kJ mol⁻¹, the uptake being due to adsorption on only one-third of the Ni²⁺ cations. The uptake for CO is 6 mmol g⁻¹, with adsorption enthalpies ranging from -24 to -14 kJ mol⁻¹. This uptake is due to adsorption on all the Ni²⁺, meaning the adsorption enthalpies are high enough to allow the structure to relax. This is also observed for adsorption of CH₃CN and CH₃OH, where there is a return to rhombohedral symmetry after uptake. The adsorption sites in dehydrated Ni and Co STA-12 were investigated via Infra-red spectroscopic analysis of adsorbed probe molecules (H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₃CN and CH₃OH). The results indicate the adsorption sites at both low and ambient temperature are the metal cations and the P=O groups. The metal cation sites are also characterised as Lewis acids with reasonable strength. STA-12 was shown to have acidic activity for the liquid phase selective oxidations of 1-hexene and cyclohexene, although there is evidence active sites are coordinated by products and/or solvents during the reaction. STA-12 also demonstrates basic activity for the Knoevenagel condensation of ethyl cyanoacetate and benzaldehyde. Modification of STA-12 by adsorption of diamine molecules causes a slight increase in the basicity, and the highest conversions are where water and diamine molecules are both present.