Zeolite Synthesised from Fused Coal Fly Ash at Low Temperature Using Seawater for Crystallization

A sample of coal fly ash from an Italian thermoelectric power plant was used in order to synthesize zeolite by hydrothermal activation after a pre-treatment fusion with Na0H. The experiments involved were performed at different temperatures of crystallization, ranging from 35 up to 60°C, with seawater and distilled water, separately, during hydrothermal proces.A comparison between the results obtained from the use of the different kinds of water showed that at low temperature (35-40°C) the synthesis yield of zeolite X is higher using seawater as crystallizing agent than using distilled water. This implies a possible application for seawater in the solution to the problem of higt water volume involved in the zeolite syntesis on a pilot plant scale.