The effect of crystallization time on structure, microstructure, and catalytic activity of zeolite-A synthesized from rice husk silica and food-grade aluminum foil

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of crystallization time on the structure, microstructure, and catalytic activity of zeolite-A synthesized from rice husk silica and food-grade aluminium foil. Three samples were prepared with fixed crystallization temperature of 100 °C and crystallization times of 48, 72, and 96 h, followed by calcination at 550 °C for 6 h. The samples were characterized using XRD and SEM then used in pyrolysis of mixed solid cassava residue and palm oil. The bio-crude oil (BCO) produced was analyzed using the GC-MS technique. For comparison, a commercial zeolite-A was also characterized and used as the catalyst. Characterization using XRD revealed that zeolite-A has formed at a 48 h crystallization period, with sodalite as a minor component, and crystallization time of 72 h resulted in optimum growth of the zeolite-A. The results of SEM indicated the presence of cubic crystal, most evidently in the sample synthesized with crystallization time of 72 h. This particular sample is the most comparable to a commercial zeolite-A. Pyrolysis experiments produced BCO with hydrocarbons as the main components, with relative percentages of biogasoline fraction (C6–C12) in the range of 71.88–91.47% in the samples produced using synthesized zeolite and 97.52% using commercial zeolite.