Synthesis of A and X Zeolites from Non Magnetic Ash of Rice Husks Through the Hydrothermal Process in the Alkaline Bases Condition

Abstract

In the general, rice mills produce rice, husks and brand around 72, 20 and 8 % respectively. The burning of rice husks produce ash around 18 %. Ash of rice husks contain silica which is zeolite-forming mineral around 88%. The purification ash of rice husks was conducted through a magnetic separation process using a bar magnet in water. Magnetic separation process produce 92.36 % non magnetic ash of rice husks and 5.64% impurities magnetic. The synthesis of zeolite from non magnetic ash of rice husks through hydrothermal process in an alkaline condition. It was carried out by starting process of forming sodium silicate and aluminate compounds through the reaction of non magnetic ash of rice husks with Al2O3 and NaOH in water accompanied by stirring at 600 rpm in the room temperature for 10 hours. Then the results of reaction was refluxed at 70C for 3 hours so that a mixture of gel was produced. After being stored for 12 hours or more at room temperature, the mixture of gel was refluxed again at 100C for 7 hoursuntil A-zeolite was produced. However, the production of X-zeolite which the mixture of gel was refluxed at 120C for 8 hours. The results of FT-IR and XRD charaterization showed that the A-zeolite has infrared absorption bands in the wave number region of 426.26, 603.24, 1000 cm-1 and diffraction peaks at 2 angles of 12.42, 17.65, 21.63, 28.70 and 33.51 degrees. Whereas the X-zeolite showed infrared absorption bands in the wave number regions of 440.70, 606.44, 745.14, 1007.88 cm-1 and diffraction peaks at 2 angles of 12.34, 17.51, 21.53, 27.90, 28.50 and 33.22 degrees.