Synthesis of Hydroxy-Sodalite from Rice Husk Silica and Food-Grade Aluminum Foil as A Catalyst for Biomass Pyrolysis

Abstract

In this research, food-grade aluminum foil (FGAF), rice husk silica (RHS), and sodium hydroxide were needed to synthesize hydroxy-sodalite (HS) using hydrothermal method. The raw materials were exposed to crystallization at 100 °C for 72, 96 and 120 h, and followed by calcination for 6 h at 550 °C. The products obtained were identified using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique, and it applied as catalysts for pyrolysis of biomass. The bio-crude oils (BCO) produced were investigated adopting gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The XRD results reveal that the products obtained with the crystallization time of 72 and 96 h are a mixture of zeolite A and HS and practically pure HS with a crystallization time of 120 h. The shapes of particles as displayed by SEM are in good agreement with the results of others. The main components of the BCO produced are hydrocarbons, with the biogasoline contents in the range of 81.67 - 96.24 % was resulted from the mixture of water hyacinth and palm oil, and 72.92 - 92.58 % from the mixture of cassava solid waste and palm oil. In this respect, it can be concluded HS is a prospective catalyst for the pyrolysis of biomass.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Hydroxy sodalite zeolites were synthesized from rice husk silica and food-grade aluminum foil using hydrothermal method at different temperatures
 Formation of hydroxy sodalite was confirmed by characterizations using XRD and SEM techniques
 Hydroxy sodalite zeolites produced were applied as catalyst for pyrolysis of a mixture of cassava solid waste with palm oil and a mixture of water hyacinth with palm oil
 The bio crude oils produced from the pyrolysis experiments were characterized using GC-MS technique to identify their chemical components
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT