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Thermal stability studies of zeolites A and X synthesized from South African coal fly ash

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Abstract

The thermal stability of zeolites A and X synthesized from coal fly ash was studied by evaluation of TGA–DTA curves obtained on increasing the temperature and by in-situ temperature-programmed XRD analysis. It was found that zeolites A and X were both stable up to approximately 800 °C and retained their characteristic diffraction peaks up to 440 °C, meaning the crystal structure was still stable. Of particular interest was that zeolite X, which has a unique hierarchical morphology, was thermally stable and was, hence, suitable for applications requiring elevated temperatures, for example catalysis and pollution control.

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Acknowledgments

The authors of this paper would like to acknowledge and thank DAAD for supporting Nicholas Musyoka during his research visit to the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Andreas Kuhnt and Wilhelm Schwieger appreciatively acknowledge funding by the German Research Council (DFG), which supports the Cluster Excellence “Engineering of Advanced Materials” at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. Assistance offered by Alexandra Inayat and Albert Machoke during the SEM analysis is also appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Nano Science Research Group, Department of Chemistry, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17 Bellville, Cape Town, 7535, South Africa

    Nicholas M. Musyoka & Leslie F. Petrik

  2. Consulting Environmental Catalysis, P.O. Box 1848, 91008, Erlangen, Germany

    Eric Hums

  3. Institute of Chemical Reaction Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

    Andreas Kuhnt & Wilhelm Schwieger

Authors
  1. Nicholas M. Musyoka
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  2. Leslie F. Petrik
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  3. Eric Hums
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  4. Andreas Kuhnt
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  5. Wilhelm Schwieger
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Correspondence to Nicholas M. Musyoka.

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Musyoka, N.M., Petrik, L.F., Hums, E. et al. Thermal stability studies of zeolites A and X synthesized from South African coal fly ash. Res Chem Intermed 41, 575–582 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-013-1211-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-013-1211-3

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