Boundary conditions of the test zeolite synthesis process from fine sand ports

• Grant number: 16/02659-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Ramos Dias de Andrade
• Grantee: Elton Barbosa Gomes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IGC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The materials discarded in the sand ports fine ponds are abundant environmental liabilities, even inert, occupy large volumes and need constant care. Domestic production of sand increased in recent years and the need to give a better destination for these wastes is being increased. The zeolite synthesis is made from the alkaline fusion with sodium hydroxide at 600 °C the thin material of the sand ports ponds, followed by solubilization in water and the zeolite precipitation over a period of curing at 65 °C (Yogi 2015). Despite giving destination to an environmental liability, the use of sodium hydroxide produces hazardous effluents cannot be released into the environment without being neutralized, furthermore, this process requires temperatures around 600 °C, which around onerous on a large scale. The objective of this project is to test more possible mild conditions of physical and chemical parameters in the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite, as lower sodium hydroxide ratios and lower temperatures.