Comparative study using different external sources of aluminum on the zeolites synthesis from rice husk ash

Abstract

Abstract Rice husk is considered as a waste in the rice industry but is proficient in manufacturing different materials, such as zeolites, which is produced in large quantities all over the world, for example in Brazil. Zeolite is an adsorbent support material, which can be synthesized from rice husk ash (RHA) with external sources of aluminium (ESA). The scientific community has been conducting several measures to minimize the environmental impacts caused by greenhouse gases. Several mitigation processes are presently investigated, which includes carbon dioxide injections into adsorbent materials (e.g. zeolites). The efficiency of this technology involves a zeolitic material with high crystallinity and high concentrations of SiO2 and Al2O3 (aluminosilicates). In the present work, zeolites have been synthesized from rice husk ash (SiO2 source) and external aluminium sources (Al2O3 - alumina, gibbsite and metakaolin) to fulfill that purpose. With the aid of XRF, XRD, SEM/EDS and FTIR techniques, the zeolitic material was characterized in two distinct crystalline phases: Mordenite and ZSM-5. The synthesis was carried out by the ideal addition of ESA (2.5 g) to RHA. According to the literature, the zeolitic materials formed by the mixture of Mordenite and ZSM-5 can be availed for gas separation and greenhouse gas storage.