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Synthesis of zeolite-A using kaolin samples from Darazo, Bauchi state and Ajebo, Ogun state in Nigeria


H. E. Mgbemere
G. I. Lawal
I.C. Ekpe
A.L. Chaudhary

Abstract

Kaolin samples from Ajebo and Darazo in Nigeria were characterized and used to produce zeolite - A crystals. The thermal analysis indicates that both samples under gode-hydroxylation from 450oC to about 700oC and are converted to metakaolin with a weight lo ss of about 11.39 and 10.43% for the Ajebo and Darazo samples respectively. Characteristic OH, Al-OH, Si-OH and Si-O-Albands were confirmed in both samples with Infra-red spectroscopy studies. The X - ray diffraction patterns clearly show the presence of the characteristic peaks (12.35 and 24.88o ) of kaolinite with little quartz impurities. X - ray diffraction measurements (2Ɵ peaks at 7 – 18o and 21 – 35o ) and scanning electron micro graphs clearly show that zeolite - A crystals are produced. The microstructures of kaolin, metakaolin and zeolite - A crystals reveal the presence of platy crystals, amorphous spherical aggregates and cubic - shaped crystals with some amorphous gel respectively . The results show that both Ajebo and Darazo kaolin are suitable for zeolite - A synthesis.

Keywords: Kaolin, Metakaolin, Thermal analysis, X - ray Diffraction, Zeolite - A


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eISSN: 2467-8821
print ISSN: 0331-8443