Zeolite X Produced by Hydrothermal Treatment of Fly Ash in an Alkaline Solution

Abstract

Fly ash (FA) was hydrothermally treated in an alkaline solution to produce zeolite X (Z-FA). The properties of the FA and Z-FA were then investigated. The FA consisted of spherical particles of various diameters. The X-ray diffraction patterns of FA and Z-FA showed that the FA mainly consisted of mullite crystals (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂), while the Z-FA consisted of zeolite crystals. The specific surface area (23.3 m²/g) and pore volume (57.6 μL/g) of the Z-FA were greater than those of the FA (2.7 m²/g and 12.7 μL/g, respectively). The pH_pzc of the FA and Z-FA were 7.94 and 9.81, respectively. [DOI: 10.1380/ejssnt.2014.23]