Production of 100 Kg/Day of Zeolite a as a Builder for Powdered Detergent from Nigerian Ahoko Kaolin Using Locally Fabricated Mini Zeolite Plant

Abstract

This project was aimed at assembling a plant already designed and fabricated, mainly furnace and crystallizer to produce a 100 kg/day of zeolite A. The produced Zeolite A was used to formulates a powdered detergent. The detergent grade Zeolite A was produced via hydrothermal process and used as substitutes for phosphates in the formulation of a powdered detergent. The formulation of the powder detergent was done by mixing and homogenising Sodium sulphate, linear alkyl benzene sulphonate acid (LABSA), Zeolite A, sodium tripolyphosphate (STTP), sodium silicate, and soda ash in a mixing unit. A 100 g of the detergent contains 55 % sodium sulphate (Na2SO3), 15 % LABSA, 8 % sodium silicate, 7 % soda ash (Na2CO3) and the remaining 15 % is formed by either (100 %) Zeolite A or a Zeolite A:STPP in a 50:50 ratio. In this formulation, aesthetics value additives such as optical brightener, perfumes, preservatives, active enzymes and stabilizer were not used. The Zeolite A produced was characterized using x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The characterisation shows that the peaks conform with standard Zeolite A, with peaks at 5, 10, 13, 16, 20, 22, 24, 28, 30 and 34 °(2theta) respectively, while the SEM image reveals a particle size of 2.47 μm and a cubical surface morphology. The powdered detergent formulated was characterised and it shows a pH of between 9.8 - 10.2, while 9.5 for commercial detergent, a foam height of 85 - 90 cm, where as commercial detergent has 99 cm, percentage moisture content of 5.1 to 7.2 %, while 8.0 % was for commercial detergent. Therefore, this comparison with a commercial phosphate based detergents and standard organization of Nigeria (SON) standards shows that Zeolite A is a good substitute for phosphates in detergent formulations.