Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Analysis of Zeolitey From Nigerian Clay Vis-Avis Standard Grade
by Babalola, R., Omoleye, J. A., Adefila, S. S.,Hymore, F. K. and Ajayi, O.A.

Abstract:
This study dwelled on the analysis of Zeolite Y synthesized from Nigeria clay vis- avisstandard grade for possible import substitutions. Zeolite Y catalyst with silica/alumina molar ratio of 4.70 was synthesized from Elefun (Nigeria) clay under hydrothermal treatment of dehydroxylated kaolin otherwise called metakaolin, with aqueous NaOH at atmospheric pressure. This paper described the preparation of zeolite Y catalyst from metakaolin of quality Elefun kaolin by ageing at 34oC for 7days, and then crystallized at 100oC for 24 hours. The synthesized zeolite NaY was modified by exchanging with NH4Cl to obtain its hydrogen form with silica/alumina molar ratio of 3.18. Both developed and standard zeolite Y catalyst were then characterized by a variety of physicochemical methods, including x- ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscope. The morphologies were examined using scanning electronic microscope (SEM). Similar results were obtained, thus confirming the synthesis of zeolite Y.

Keywords: Crystallization, hydrothermal, Zeolite Y, XRF, XRD, FT-IR, SEM

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