Abstract
Abstract The use of low cost materials in zeolite synthesis becomes an area of important interest in water softening. This research is aimed to utilize kaolin for zeolite synthesis with hydrothermal method. Mechanical, thermal chemical treatments of raw kaolin were used for zeolite synthesis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), AAS, XRD, surface area (BET), differential scanning calorimetry and TGA were used to characterize kaolin and zeolite and UV–VIS/spectrometer were used for adsorption capacity of ion exchange. Effect of contact time, pH solution and temperature of the solution were studied for batch experiments. XRD values indicated that the prepared material is showed as fully crystalline and primarily amorphous. Before and after hardness removal sample transmittance percentage intensity showed a wide range of difference. From this study, it can be deduced that Zeolite can be used as a low cost water softening agent. At room temperature, the residue is well with calcium and badly with magnesium, whereas affinity toward Mg ions increases to acceptable levels at 60 °C. The cation exchange capacity of zeolite was found to be dependent on contact time. The batch experiments of removing Ca2+ and Mg2+ show that the adsorption capacity of zeolite in calcium ion is higher affinity than magnesium ion.
Highlights
Zeolite is the universal type of synthetic zeolite in the area of industry application. This is due to its large ion exchange capacity, mechanical strength and particular crystal shape
Natural Kaolin is the most common mineral of a group of hydrous aluminum silicate, which result from the breaking of aluminum-rich silicate rock, such as feldspar and nephalin syenite, either through weathering or hydrothermal activity (Mohammed & Ameel 2000)
Kaolin was used for synthesised zeolite as source of silicon and aluminum for metal adsorption. 98% concentrated sulfuric acid was used to split it into its silica and alumina components
Summary
Zeolite is the universal type of synthetic zeolite in the area of industry application. This is due to its large ion exchange capacity, mechanical strength and particular crystal shape. It is environmentally safe with almost zero loading of harmful effect on the environment (Ajayi et al 2010). With the application of the inherent characteristics of molecular pore size, superfluously extended surface area and corresponding pore volume per unit mass, constituent ions charge effects and chemical inertness of Zeolites (Chandrasekhar 1995). Kaolin has been identified as a very important group of clay mineral, which is copiously utilized as an industrial mineral commodity (Aveen & Kafia 2014). The various physical attributes of kaolin mineral have made it useful in various ways industrially and these include paints, ceramics, and rubber, paper, and petroleum and glass industries (Ríos et al 2012)
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