Síntesis de zeolitas tipo faujasita a partir de silicato derivado de clinker natural y aluminio post-consumo

Abstract

Waste materials such as natural clinker and post-consumer aluminum were used in the development of this study. Due to their physical and chemical properties, they are useful as primary sources of silica and aluminum. By using these materials, it is possible to synthesize zeolites (aluminosilicates) from them. A methodology for zeolite characterization by XRD techniques of polycrystalline samples (XRPD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for evaluation of the synthesized zeolites are proposed. Natural clinker used in this research, is one of the byproducts from coal mining located in Cerrejón-La Guajira, which is characterized by high silicon levels, an essential element in obtaining silicates for zeolite synthesis. Faujasite X zeolite synthesized, with molar ratio Si/Al of 2.4, was successfully obtained showing only traces of LTA zeolite formation. In order to give an applicability to the zeolite obtained, its effectiveness in the ion exchange of calcium and magnesium in water was analyzed. This research manages to give added value to clinker and post-consumer aluminum by obtaining products of industrial interest from waste. Thus, it helps reducing the growing environmental problems that are generated daily on our planet, and which until today are only considered as potential resources.