Zeolite from Bigadi
, Turkey: An Experimental Study1
Dicle Bal Akkocaa, Melek Y
lgnb, Melek Urala, Hasan Akçinc, and Ayhan Mergend
a Firat University, Engineering Faculty, Geological Engineering, Elazig, Turkey
b Firat University, Engineering Faculty, Chemical Engineering, Elazig, Turkey
c Eti Mine Works General Management, Ankara, Turkey
d Marmara University, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, Goztepe Campus, Istanbul, Turkey
e-mail: dbal@firat.edu.tr
Received December 23, 2011; in final form, January 21, 2012
Abstract—The clinoptilolite rich zeolite from Bigadiç which was formed from alteration of volcanic glass
were treated with acidic (HCl, H3BO3, H3PO4), alkaline (KOH, NaOH) solutions. Hydrothermally treated and
untreated samples were heat treated at 400, 550 and 700
C. XRD, ICP-MS and N2 gas adsorption were used for
physicochemical characterization of zeolites. Considering the Si/Al > 4 and Na+K/Ca+Mg < 1ratios, zeolite
sample is included to earth alkali clinoptilolite class (Heu II) which is also revealed by thermal treatments. Since
zeolite structure contains low alkalies it was at collapsed 550C.
The removal of oxide elements efficiency of acids and alkalies were in the order of HCl > H3PO4 > HBO3 >
KOH > NaOH. XRD analysis indicated that the structure of zeolite was not altered with acids and alkali treat-
ments. The structure of zeolite treated with HCl and other acids started to deform at 400 and 550C respectively.
In treatment with HCl, Si/Al ratio increases with significant a decrease in K content which resulted in a decrease
in the heat stability of zeolite. No change was observed in the structure and thermal stability of clinoptilolite
after alkali treatments. The fact that although significant amount of Na is removed with H3BO3 acid and Na is
increased with NaOH but the thermal stability remains the same indicates that Na cation is not an important
parameter as much as K. HCl and H3PO4 acid treatments increased the surface area depending on the dissolution
of amorphous material and H3PO4 was found to be more effective. However, the total pore size decreased due
to formation of new micropores.
Keywords: clinoptilolite, dealumination, alkaline, acid, thermal treatment, Bigadiç
DOI: 10.1134/S0016702913040022
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