Effect of Aging on the Synthesis of Kaolin-Based Zeolite Y from Ahoko Nigeria Using a Novel Metakaolinization Technique

Abstract

Zeolite Y was systematically synthesized from Ahoko Nigerian kaolin in a conventional hydrothermal system using novel metakaolinization technique. The effect of aging on the formation of zeolite phase was investigated during the course of the synthesis. A rapidly processed metakaolin at a temperature of 600°C and exposure time of 50 minutes, which is capable of reducing the energy and cost of producing it was used to study the synthesis of zeolite Y. It was found that aging conditions play a prominent role in the preparation of zeolite Y from Ahoko metakaolin. Aging played a significant role by increasing the crystallinity of the final product even though zeolite Y was obtain without aging. The outcome of zeolite Y synthesized from Ahoko kaolin in 9 hours at 100°C was different from most reports on the synthesis of zeolite Y from kaolin where longing time (72 hours) of crystallization are reported.

Keywords:

• Aging
• Ahoko Nigerian kaolin
• DRIFT
• metakaolinization
• zeolite

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Nigeria for sponsoring this work. The following people are also acknowledge: Dr. Patrick Hill of Chemical Engineering, for helping with SEM analysis; Dr. Amina Ben Ghoubon for helping with DRIFT analysis; and Dr. Martin Atterfield for showing me how to use Temperature Programmed XRD analysis.

Notes

Permanent address: Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna PMB 65, Nigeria.