Zeolite A Synthesized from Geothermal Waste Using Conventional and Microwave Heating for the Hydrothermal Treatment

Abstract

Zeolite A has been successfully synthesized from geothermal waste with natrium aluminate and natrium silicate using conventional (C-H) and microwave heating (M-H) for the hydrothermal treatment. The products obtained for different aging times have been characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is shown that with the M-H process, zeolite can be formed at relatively low temperature (100°C) in a relatively short time (40 min). The crystallization of zeolite A has been found to be generally promoted by an increase of aging and synthesis time; however, it has also been observed that relative long aging times can transform it into sodalite. Zeolite A produced through the M-H process generally displays a smaller and more homogeneous crystal size with respect to that obtained with the C-H method.