Role of some transition metal cations on the kinetics of thermal dehydration of synthetic zeolites

Zeolite was synthesized by the interaction of sodium silicate and sodium aluminate solution. The gel formed was purified and physico-chemically characterized. The gel was converted into different cationic forms, like, Ni2+, Co2+, Cd2+, etc., by ion exchange process. Isothermal dehydration kinetics of the hydrogel was studied from thermo-gravimetry. The gel dehydration reaction was observed to be low energy diffusion controlled process and the major part of the process followed first order kinetics. Exchangeable cations affected the kinetic parameters of the dehydration process.