A study of thermal treatment and hydrothermal crystallization stages in production of granulated NaA zeolite from mechanically activated metakaolin

Abstract

NaA zeolite was synthesized from mechanically activated granulated mixtures of metakaolin, sodium hydroxide, and aluminum oxide. The thermal treatment and hydrothermal crystallization processes were studied. It is shown that the optimal temperature of thermal treatment of grains based on a mechanically activated metakaolin is 600°C at a NaA zeolite content of about 65 wt %. Raising the calcination temperature leads to a decrease in the content of the zeolite and to formation of nepheline. It was found that the optimal concentration of the crystallization solution of NaOH is 2–4 M. Under these conditions, the content of the zeolite exceeds 90 wt %. Raising the alkali concentration leads to a decrease in the content of the zeolite and to its recrystallization into sodalite.