The Alkaline Fusion-Hydrothermal Synthesis of Na-P1 zeolite from Amazon kaolin tailings and its application in methylene blue retention
Zeolite P1, Amazon, kaolin tailings, Adsorption.
The use of waste from the mineral industry to obtain materials of technological importance has intensified in the last two decades, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact generated by them and adding value to an unwanted product. In the case of kaolin tailings from the Amazon, its use for the production of zeolites with zeolite A structure, sodalite and faujasite (13X zeolite) is already observed. In the present study, the results of the synthesis and characterization of P1-type zeolite are presented, in addition to its application as an adsorbent for methylene blue dye. Obtaining zeolite P1 was monitored by X-ray diffractometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that zeolite was successfully obtained without impurities, high degree of crystallinity, thermal stability above 300º C and very distinct and defined morphology. Dye adsorption results showed that zeolite P1 was able to adsorb up to 90% of methylene blue. Thus, it can be said that the kaolin tailings from the Amazon can be reused to obtain new zeolitic materials that are of great scientific relevance.