SYNTHESIS OF ZEOLITE FROM INORGANIC WASTES

Abstract

The synthesis of zeolite in forms suitable for industrial applications is of great importance, mainly as ion exchange material, molecular sieves, adsorbents and catalyst. In the present investigation an effort has been made to synthesize zeolite from glaze free ceramic (inorganic) wastes (porcelain bodies) such as broken stoneware pipe and washbasin. Porcelain mainly is composed of amorphous glass phase and crystalline phases such as quartz and mullite. Most of the amorphous and crystalline phases are converted into soluble phases by alkali fusion and transformed into zeolite crystals with high specific area and unique micro-pores. The synthesized zeolites were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction.