Ultrasonic waves induce rapid zeolite synthesis in a seawater solution

The synthesis of zeolites from fly ash was performed through a low-temperature hydrothermal process with seawater. Compared with the results obtained using the same hydrothermal method but in the absence of sonication, the application of an ultrasonic pre-treatment to the conventional hydrothermal process with seawater reduces the crystallization temperature below that observed when hydrothermal synthesis is performed using distilled water.

► Hydrothermal process in seawater preceded or not by sonication were compared.
► Ultrasonic treatment reduced the crystallization temperature.
► The results confirm the previous findings obtained using distilled water.
► The crystallization efficiency is surprisingly lower when applied with seawater.