Thermal behavior and physical characteristics of synthetic zeolite from CFB-coal fly ash

• Practical application of fly ash derived from coal combustion is presented.
• The method of zeolite synthesis from fly ash is demonstrated.
• Thermal analysis allow the unequivocal identification of the particular materials.

This paper concerns the process of practical application of fly ash derived from coal combustion in CFB-boilers by means of its synthesis into zeolite-like materials. Two methods of such synthesis of fly ash were examined, namely the fusion synthesis and low-temperature synthesis. The paper provides some detailed characteristics of the physical properties of the obtained zeolite-like materials (e.g., density, the specific surface area, the size of pores and pore volume fraction). The referred materials have undergone coupled thermal analysis (QMS coupled with TG and DSC), which allowed for the detailed interpretation of the processes taking place during the examination of their thermal resistance. According to the results, zeolite-like materials obtained by means of the low-temperature synthesis have big value of the specific surface area (213.2 ± 1.8 m2/g). The above-mentioned materials have also the highest value of the loss on ignition (17.3%) and they release carbon-related gas products in two phases (m/z 12 and m/z 44). According to XRD analysis, they contain Zeolite X (Na).

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide