Synthesis of a high-quality NaP zeolite from epidesmine by a hydrothermal method

Abstract

Epidesmine as a silicon source was used to synthesize NaP zeolite by a hydrothermal method. Parameters such as $\hbox {SiO}_{{2}}$/$\hbox {Al}_{{2}}\hbox {O}_{{3}}$ and $\hbox {H}_{{2}}\hbox {O}$/$\hbox {Na}_{{2}}\hbox {O}$ molar ratios, reaction temperatures and reaction times were investigated for regulating the purity of the final product. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The experimental results evidenced that a high-quality NaP zeolite was obtained at $\hbox {SiO}_{{2}}$/$\hbox {Al}_{{2}}\hbox {O}_{{3}}$ and $\hbox {H}_{{2}}\hbox {O}$/$\hbox {Na}_{{2}}\hbox {O}$ molar ratios of 3.7 and 55, respectively, and at a temperature of $95^{\circ }\hbox {C}$ for 6.5 h of ageing. The BET surface area and total pore volume of the powders were $17.1359\,\hbox {m}^{2}\,\hbox {g}^{-1}$ and $0.006845\,\hbox {cm}^{3}\,\hbox {g}^{-1}$, and the pore size was ${\sim }3.2\,\upmu \hbox {m}$.