SYNTHESIS OF ZEOLITE-A USING KAOLIN SAMPLES FROM DARAZO, BAUCHI STATE AND AJEBO, OGUN STATE IN NIGERIA
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Date
2018-01
Authors
Mgbemere, Henry
Lawal, Ganiyu
Ekpe, Ikenna
Chaudhary, Anna-Lisa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH)
Abstract
Kaolin samples from Ajebo and Darazo in Nigeria were characterized and used to produce zeolite-A crystals. The
thermal analysis indicates that both samples undergo de-hydroxylation from 450 oC to about 700 oC and are
converted to metakaolin with a weight loss of about 11.39 and 10.43% for the Ajebo and Darazo samples respectively.
Characteristic OH, Al-OH, Si-OH and Si-O-Al bands were confirmed in both samples with Infra-red spectroscopy
studies. The X-ray diffraction patterns clearly show the presence of the characteristic peaks (12.35 and 24.88o) of
kaolinite with little quartz impurities. X-ray diffraction measurements (2Ɵ peaks at 7–18o and 21–35o) and scanning
electron micrographs clearly show that zeolite-A crystals are produced. The microstructures of kaolin, metakaolin and
zeolite-A crystals reveal the presence of platy crystals, amorphous spherical aggregates and cubic-shaped crystals
with some amorphous gel respectively. The results show that both Ajebo and Darazo kaolin are suitable for zeolite-A
synthesis.
Description
Keywords
Kaolin, Metakaolin, Thermal analysis, X-ray Diffraction, Zeolite-A