SYNTHESIS OF ZEOLITE-A FROM LOCALLY AVAILABLE FULLER’S EARTH IN KARNATAKA, INDIA

Abstract

In this investigation, Zeolite-A, has been synthesized using Fuller’s earth, a naturally occurring clay in the Gulbarga region of Karnataka, India. Silica and alumina are the chief source minerals for the formation of zeolites. Fuller's earth used in this work, containing about 48.523 % silica and 9.682 % of alumina has been used to synthesize a zeolitic material by conventional alkali fusion-hydrothermal method. NaOH was used as an activator and mineralizer at an optimum temperature, to form soluble sodium silicate and sodium aluminate that converted to zeolite during hydrothermal treatment. Hydrothermal treatment was carried out at a specific temperature and time period to convert the aged material, into a porous crystalline zeolitic material. XRD and FTIR analysis carried out on the final products confirmed the type of zeolite formed. Highly valuable zeolites that can be used as catalyst, adsorbent and as ion exchange material can be synthesized from the naturally available inexpensive, local clay.