Synthesis and Characterization of Zeolite 4Å from Iraqi Kaolin and Rice Husk
Abstract
It is known that a molecular sieve is a material with pores (very small holes) of uniform size.These pore diameters are similar in size to small molecules, and thus large molecules cannot enter or be adsorbed, while smaller molecules can, so molecular sieves or zeolites are an important widespread industrial material of unique chemical structure, which are used in most industrial plants as an adsorbent for gases or even as catalysts. Zeolite 4Å was prepared from Iraqi kaolin and rice husk using the process of conversion of rice husk to silica and kaolin to sodium aluminate where zeolite was prepared from. It was then characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy which prove the formation of zeoliteand also indicate that this kaolin/rice husk can be used as a raw material for zeolite production.