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The influence of mechanical activation on the nanostructure of zeolite

  • Mechanochemical Synthesis
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Abstract

A Hungarian natural zeolite was mechanically activated by grinding in a Netzsch MiniCer stirred media mill for various activation times from 0 to 480 min. The research goal was to produce submicron-size activated zeolite with narrow particle size distribution and to investigate the energetic aspects of grinding and material characteristics. During mechanical activation (MA) the grinding energy was measured and stress energy was calculated. Additionally, the particle size distribution of the product was characterized by a Horiba 950 LA laser particle size analyzer (LPSA). Furthermore, the BET specific surface area and adsorption capacity of the MA zeolite were measured using TriStar 3000 apparatus and methylene blue adsorption test, respectively. The structural characterization of mechanically activated zeolite was carried out using Rietveld refinement on X-ray powder diffractometry data, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM-EDS). TEM images and LPSA data of MA zeolite revealed the presence of particles below 100 nm. Significant amorphization, as well as the decrease in clinoptilolite phase, was found during entire MA process, while methylene blue adsorption was maintained. Finally, the relationship between grinding operating parameter (specific grinding energy) and material characteristics (amorphous content, the crystallite size of quartz and clinoptilolite) was created.

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Acknowledgements

The described work was carried out of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Natural Resource Management at the Faculty of Earth Science and Engineering, University of Miskolc. The described article was carried out as part of the “Sustainable Raw Material Management Thematic Network—RING 2017,” EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00010 project in the framework of the Széchenyi2020 Program. The realization of this project is supported by the European Union, co-financed by the European Social Fund and supported BY the ÚNKP-17-3-III-ME/27 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities. Pekker Péter (Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metalforming, and Nanotechnology, the University of Miskolc) is acknowledged for the TEM measurements. László Vanyorek (Institute of Chemistry, the University of Miskolc) is acknowledged for help in methylene blue adsorption measurements. BET measurements were taken by Tibor Ferenczi (Institute of Metallurgy, the University of Miskolc).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Raw Material Preparation and Environmental Processing, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, Hungary

    Katalin Bohács & Gábor Mucsi

  2. Institute of Mineralogy and Geology, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, Hungary

    Ferenc Kristály

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  1. Katalin Bohács
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Correspondence to Katalin Bohács.

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Bohács, K., Kristály, F. & Mucsi, G. The influence of mechanical activation on the nanostructure of zeolite. J Mater Sci 53, 13779–13789 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2502-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-2502-2

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