Effects of Ageing and Seeding on the Formation of Zeolite Y from Coal Fly Ash

Zeolite Y was selectively synthesised by treating Tarong fly ash in a hydrothermal system. The effects of ageing and seeding on the formation of the resultant phases, crystallisation kinetics, and gel chemistry of Si and Al were investigated. Most of the Si and Al components in the Tarong fly ash could be effectively transformed into zeolite Y in the presence of seeds but not the mineral phase, like mullite. The maximum crystallinity of zeolite Y obtained was 72%. The cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of the fly ash was 0.08 mmol/g but increased to 3.2 mmol/g after a proper treatment. Crystallisation of zeolite materials from fly ash is quite different from that of normal zeolite synthesis because the sources of Si and Al are relatively less reactive and other cation ions (e.g., K⁺, Mg²⁺) are present in fly ash. Zeolite P is a competitive phase present in the resulting products that could be eliminated by employing the seeding method. NMR study demonstrated that ageing plays an important role in enhancing the hydrothermal condition during which both Si and Al in fly ash dissolved into a basic solution and reacted to form ring-like structures, and further to zeolite materials. Seeding can selectively induce the formation of zeolite Y and eliminate the processes of induction and nucleation.