Kaolin as a Source of Silica and Alumina For Synthesis of Zeolite Y and Amorphous Silica Alumina

Chemical Engineering Department, Bandung State Polytechnic, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: endang.srirahayu@polban.ac.id

Abstract

Kaolin is the clay mineral which containing silica (SiO₂) and alumina (Al₂O₃) in a high percentage, that can be used as a nutrient in the synthesis of zeolites and amorphous silica alumina (ASA). The objective of this research is to convert the Belitung kaolin into silica and alumina as nutrients for the synthesis of zeolites and amorphous silica alumina, which are required in the preparation of the catalysts. Silica and alumina contained in the kaolin were separated by leaching the active kaolin called as metakaolin, using HCL solution, giving a solid phase rich silica and a liquid phase rich alumina. The solid phase rich silica was synthesized to zeolite Y by adding seed of the Y Lynde type, through the hydrothermal process with an alkaline condition. While, the liquid phase rich alumina was converted into an amorphous silica alumina through a co precipitation method. Characterization of zeolite and ASA were done using XRD, surface area and pore analyzer and SEM. The higher of alumina in liquid phase as a result of the rising molar of HCL in the leaching process was observed, but it didn’t work for its rising time. Products of ASA and zeolite Y were obtained by using liquid phase rich alumina and solid phase rich silica, respectively, which resulted through leaching metakaolin in 2.5 M HCl at temperature of 100° C for 2 hours.