A Novel and Green Approach to Produce Nano- Porous Materials Zeolite A and MCM-41 from Coal Fly Ash and their Applications in Environmental Protection

Authors: K. S. Hui, K. N. Hui, Seong Kon Lee

Abstract:

Zeolite A and MCM-41 have extensive applications in basic science, petrochemical science, energy conservation/storage, medicine, chemical sensor, air purification, environmentally benign composite structure and waste remediation. However, the use of zeolite A and MCM-41 in these areas, especially environmental remediation, are restricted due to prohibitive production cost. Efficient recycling of and resource recovery from coal fly ash has been a major topic of current international research interest, aimed at achieving sustainable development of human society from the viewpoints of energy, economy, and environmental strategy. This project reported an original, novel, green and fast methods to produce nano-porous zeolite A and MCM-41 materials from coal fly ash. For zeolite A, this novel production method allows a reduction by half of the total production time while maintaining a high degree of crystallinity of zeolite A which exists in a narrower particle size distribution. For MCM-41, this remarkably green approach, being an environmentally friendly process and reducing generation of toxic waste, can produce pure and long-range ordered MCM-41 materials from coal fly ash. This approach took 24 h at 25 oC to produce 9 g of MCM-41 materials from 30 g of the coal fly ash, which is the shortest time and lowest reaction temperature required to produce pure and ordered MCM-41 materials (having the largest internal surface area) compared to the values reported in the literature. Performance evaluation of the produced zeolite A and MCM-41 materials in wastewater treatment and air pollution control were reported. The residual fly ash was also converted to zeolite Na-P1 which showed good performance in removal of multi-metal ions in wastewater. In wastewater treatment, compared to commercial-grade zeolite A, adsorbents produced from coal fly ash were effective in removing multi heavy metal ions in water and could be an alternative material for treatment of wastewater. In methane emission abatement, the zeolite A (produced from coal fly ash) achieved similar methane removal efficiency compared to the zeolite A prepared from pure chemicals. This report provides the guidance for production of zeolite A and MCM-41 from coal fly ash by a cost-effective approach which opens potential applications of these materials in environmental industry. Finally, environmental and economic aspects of production of zeolite A and MCM-41 from coal fly ash were discussed.

Keywords: Metal ions, waste water, methane, volatile organic compounds

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1331537

References:

[1] K.S. Hui, C.Y.H. Chao, "Methane emissions abatement by multi-ionexchanged zeolite A prepared from both commercial-grade zeolite and coal fly ash," Environmental Science & Technology, 42, pp. 7392-7397, 2008.
[2] K.S. Hui, C.Y.H. Chao, "Synthesis of MCM-41 from coal fly ash by a green approach: Influence of synthesis pH," Journal of Hazardous Materials, 137, pp. 1135-1148, 2006.
[3] A. Dyer, Introduction to Zeolite Molecular Sieves, first ed., New York: Wiley, 1988.
[4] C.T. Kresge, M.E. Leonowicz, W.J. Roth, J.C. Vartuli, J.S. Beck, "Ordered mesoporous molecular-sieves synthesized by a liquid-crystal template mechanism," Nature, 359, pp. 710-712, 1992.
[5] X.S. Zhao, G.Q. Lu, G.J. Millar, "Advances in mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 35, pp. 2075-2090, 1996.
[6] C.Y.H. Chao, C.W. Kwong, K.S. Hui, "Potential use of a combined ozone and zeolite system for gaseous toluene elimination," Journal of Hazardous Materials, 143, pp. 118-127, 2007.
[7] C.W. Kwong, C.Y.H. Chao, K.S. Hui, M.P. Wan, "Removal of VOCs from indoor environment by ozonation over different porous materials," Atmospheric Environment, 42, pp. 2300-2311, 2008.
[8] C.W. Kwong, C.Y.H. Chao, K.S. Hui, M.P. Wan, "Catalytic ozonation of toluene over zeolite and MCM type materials," Environmental Science & Technology, 42, pp. 8504-8509, 2008.
[9] H. Misran, R. Singh, S. Begum, M.A. Yarmo, "Processing of mesoporous silica materials (MCM-41) from coal fly ash," Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 186, pp. 8-13, 2007.
[10] L. Williams, "From coal dust to carbon credits," in The University of New South Wales News, 2008.
[11] I. Twardowska, J. Szczepanska, "Solid waste: terminological and longterm environmental risk assessment problems exemplified in a power plant fly ash study," The Science of the Total Environment, 285, pp. 29- 51, 2002.
[12] E.P.A. US, "Using coal fly ash in highway construction: a guide to benefits and impacts," pp. EPA-530-K-05-002., 2005
[April].
[13] X. Querol, N. Moreno, J.C. Umana, A. Alastuey, E. Hernandez, A. Lopez-Soler, F. Plana, "Synthesis of zeolites from coal fly ash: an overview," International Journal of Coal Geology, 50, pp. 413-423, 2002.
[14] H.L. Chang, C.M. Chun, I.A. Aksay, W.H. Shih, "Conversion of fly ash into mesoporous aluminosilicate," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 38, pp. 973-977, 1999.
[15] P. Kumar, N. Mal, Y. Oumi, K. Yamana, T. Sano, "Mesoporous materials prepared using coal fly ash as the silicon and aluminium source," Journal of Materials Chemistry, 11, pp. 3285-3290, 2001.
[16] R.E. Clement, G.A. Eiceman, C.J. Koester, "Environmental-Analysis," Analytical Chemistry, 67, pp. R221-R255, 1995.
[17] J.T. Houghton, Y. Ding, D.J. Griggs, M. Noguer, P.J. vandeLinden, D. Xiaosu, Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
[18] J.A. Dean, Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, fifteenth ed., New York: McGraw-Hill, 1998.
[19] E.M. Flanigen, "Zeolites and molecular sieves: an historical perspective," Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, 137, pp. 11-35, 2001.
[20] S.C. White, E.D. Case, "Characterization of fly-ash from coal-fired power-plants," Journal of Materials Science, 25, pp. 5215-5219, 1990.
[21] K.S. Hui, C.Y.H. Chao, "Effects of step-change of synthesis temperature on synthesis of zeolite 4A from coal fly ash," Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 88, pp. 145-151, 2006.
[22] W.L. Dai, H. Chen, Y. Cao, H.X. Li, S.H. Xie, K.N. Fan, "Novel economic and green approach to the synthesis of highly active WMCM41 catalyst in oxidative cleavage of cyclopentene," Chemical Communications, pp. 892-893, 2003.
[23] K.S. Hui, C.Y.H. Chao, S.C. Kot, "Removal of mixed heavy metal ions in waste water by zeolite 4A and residual products from recycled coal fly ash," Journal Of Hazardous Materials, 127, pp. 89-101, 2005.
[24] C.Y.H. Chao, K.S. Hui, W. Kong, P. Cheng, J.H. Wang, "Analytical and experimental study of premixed methane-air flame propagation in narrow channels," International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 50, pp. 1302-1313, 2007.
[25] A. Filippidis, N. Kantiranis, "Experimental neutralization of lake and stream waters from N. Greece using domestic HEU-type rich natural zeolitic material," Desalination, 213, pp. 47-55, 2007.
[26] K.S. Hui, C.Y.H. Chao, C.W. Kwong, M.P. Wan, "Use of multitransition metal-ion-exchanged zeolite 13X catalysts in methane emissions abatement," Combustion and Flame, 153, pp. 119-129, 2008.
[27] H.L. Chang, W.H. Shih, "Synthesis of zeolites A and X from fly ashes and their ion-exchange behavior with cobalt ions," Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 39, pp. 4185-4191, 2000.
[28] N. Beyazit, O.N. Ergun, I. Peker, "Cu(II) removal from aqueous solution using Dogantepe (Amasya) zeolites," International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 19, pp. 150-159, 2003.
[29] C. Namasivayam, R.T. Yamuna, J. Jayanthi, "Removal of methylene blue from wastewater by adsorption on cellulosic waste, orange peel," Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, 37, pp. 333-339, 2003.
[30] J.H. Lee, D.L. Trimm, "Catalytic combustion of methane," Fuel Processing Technology, 42, pp. 339-359, 1995.
[31] P. Hurtado, S. Ordonez, A. Vega, F.V. Diez, "Catalytic combustion of methane over commercial catalysts in presence of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide," Chemosphere, 55, pp. 681-689, 2004.
[32] K.S. Hui, C.Y.H. Chao, "Pure, single phase, high crystalline, chamferededge zeolite 4A synthesized from coal fly ash for use as a builder in detergents," Journal of Hazardous Materials, 137, pp. 401-409, 2006.
[33] T. Punshon, D.C. Adriano, J.T. Weber, "Restoration of drastically eroded land using coal fly ash and poultry biosolid," The Science of the Total Environment, 296, pp. 209-225, 2002.