Comparison between leached metakaolin and leached diatomaceous earth as raw materials for the synthesis of ZSM-5
Inexpensive raw materials have been used to prepare ZSM-5 zeolites with SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratios in the range 20 – 40. Kaolin or Bolivian diatomaceous earth was used as aluminosilicate raw materials and sodium hydroxide and n- butylamine were used as mineralizing agents and template. Dealumination of the raw materials by acid leaching made it possible to reach appropriate SiO2/Al2O3 ratios and to reduce the amount of iron and other impurities. After mixing the components and aging, hydrothermal treatment was carried out and the products were recovered The results clearly show for the first time that well-crystallized ZSM-5 can be directly prepared from leached metakaolin or leached diatomaceous earth using sodium hydroxide and n-butylamine as mineralizing agents and template under appropriate synthesis conditions. A longer induction time prior to crystallization was observed for reaction mixtures prepared from leached diatomaceous earth, probably due to slower digestion of the fossilized diatom skeletons as compared with that for microporous leached metakaolin. The use of leached diatomaceous earth allowed higher yield of ZSM-5 crystals within comparable synthesis times. However, low amounts of Mordenite formed, which was related to the high calcium content of diatomaceous earth. Another considerable advantage of diatomaceous earth over kaolin is that diatomaceous earth does not require heat treatment at high temperature for metakaolinization.
Brightness improvement studies on 'kaolin based' zeolite 4A
China clay or kaolin in which kaolinite (Al2O3 · 2SiO2 · 2H2O) is the principal mineral, can be a convenient raw material for the synthesis of zeolite 4A since the Si/Al ratio is ideally suited for the same. Zeolite 4A has been recognised as a substitute for sodium tri-polyphosphate (STPP), which is the traditional water softening agent in detergents. Zeohte 4A is generally produced from pure chemicals i.e. from a freshly prepared sodium aluminosilicate gel and hence the impurities are negligible. The clay based zeohte is inferior due to its lower brightness since the kaolin is invariably associated with colouring impurities such as micaceous, titanoferrous and ferruginous compounds. The transition metal ions (e.g. iron), above a particular level, not only reduce the brightness but also decompose the perbomtes which is an ingredient in certain detergent formulations. The present paper discusses ways to improve the brightness of zeolite 4A prepared from kaolin by the removal or masking of iron minerals at various levels of the process route.
Effects of the mineral phase and valence of vanadium on vanadium extraction from stone coal
The influence of roasting on the leaching rate and valence of vanadium was evaluated during vanadium extraction from stone coal. Vanadium in stone coal is hard to be leached and the leaching rate is less than 10% when the raw ore is leached by 4 mol/L H2SO4 at 90°C for 2 h. After the sample is roasted at 900°C for 2 h, the leaching rate of vanadium reaches the maximum, and more than 70% of vanadium can be leached. The crystal of vanadium-bearing mica minerals decomposes and the content of V(V) increases with the rise of roasting temperature from 600 to 900°C, therefore the leaching rate of vanadium increases significantly with the decomposition of the mica minerals. Some new phases, anorthite for example, form when the roasting temperature reaches 1000°C. A part of vanadium may be enwrapped in the sintered materials and newly formed phases, which may impede the oxidation of low valent vanadium and make the leaching rate of vanadium drop dramatically. The leaching rate of vanadium is not only determined by the valence state of vanadium but also controlled by the decomposition of vanadium-bearing minerals and the existence state of vanadium to a large extent.