Synthesis of mesoporous phase materials via Sol-gel process using Indian cementitious raw material

• Main Authors: Dikshit, A.K., Chugh, K., Chaturvedi, S.K., Mohapatra, B.N.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline solution; Clay; Phase formation; Porosity; Sol–gel
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.04.326

Synthesis of zeolite through sol–gel green route specifically focusing on significant reduction of organic templates and possible elimination of solvent has been explored using Indian cementitious raw materials by utilization of natural earth resources. The kaoline and china clay collected from different regions of India were thermally activated. Their activation was achieved through the process of dehydroxylation at 750 °C for 1 h in a muffle furnace. Zeolitization process was involved in the alkaline treatment through the sol–gel process with aqueous sodium hydroxide at atmospheric pressure and its consequent transformation into Zeolite phase crystal. It was then aged for (5–7) days at 60 °C temperature and crystallized at 100 °C for one day. Zeolite phases were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) for different zeolitic phase evaluation, structural morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal characteristics by DTA/TGA shows that crystalline water was removed above room temperature and prominent zeolite crystals were formed and finally porosity measured by mercury porosimeter where average pore diameter as 380.24 nm, median pore diameter as 29837.74 nm at 37.61 mm3/g and modal pore diameter was obtained as 16.27 nm for porous zeolite phases.