Title : Coal fly ash derived new generation versatile nano zeolites
Abstract:
Coal fly ash (CFA) is used as a cheap source of aluminosilicate to produce various types of applied zeolites in adsorption process, catalytic decontamination/ degradation, catalytic reactions, etc. The conversion of CFA to the highly efficient zeolitic adsorbents/catalysts reduces the zeolite production costs, the risk of CFA accumulation and environmental pollution. In the synthesis process of CFA-based zeolites, focusing on its reactivity is always a major challenge, which depends on their structural, morphological, and textural properties. The most practical strategies to improve the adsorption efficiency/catalytic activity of CFA-based zeolites include isomorphic substitution of Si with cationic metals in the zeolite framework, manufacture of mesoporous nano-crystalline zeolites and its functionalization with different types of organo-amines modifiers. Coal fly ash-derived new generation versatile nano-zeolites are the hybrid of aluminosilicate nano sheets and nanocrystals with mesoporous structure and higher surface area/pore volume which are considered as the best support materials for chemical modification. The covalent linkages of synthesized nano-zeolite with different amine chains through hybrid functionalization creates multi-layer connection, remarkably improves the external surface of nano-zeolites, increases the hydrophobicity/selectivity features, enhances the chemical binding with reactant molecules and consequently promotes the adsorption capacity/catalytic activity.
