Synthesis of zeolite-carbon composites using high-carbon fly ash and their adsorption abilities towards petroleum substances

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 283; p. 119173
• Main Authors: Bandura, Lidia, Panek, Rafał, Madej, Jarosław, Franus, Wojciech
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Aluminum oxide; Carbon; Composite materials; Crystals; Differential thermal analysis; Fluorescence; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Fly ash; Fourier analysis; Fourier transforms; High-carbon fly ash; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Kerosene; Oil spills cleanup; Particle size; Particle size distribution; Petroleum; Photoelectron spectroscopy; Photoelectrons; Porosity; Scanning electron microscopy; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Size distribution; Spectroscopic analysis; Spectrum analysis; Structural analysis; Surface area; Surface chemistry; Thermal analysis; X ray fluorescence analysis; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction; X-ray fluorescence; Zeolite-carbon composite; Zeolites; SC; AC; NaX-C; NaX; High-carbon fly ash; HCFA; FA; Zeolite-carbon composite; NaP1-C; Oil spills cleanup; Adsorbents
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119173

[Display omitted] •Zeolite-carbon composites obtained using high-carbon fly ash of LOI 38%.•Single-step synthesis on pilot scale applied to obtain NaX-C and NaP1-C composites.•NaP1-C material provides void volume available for oil adsorption. In this paper, high-carbon fly ash (HCFA) was used to produce the zeolite-carbon composites of faujasite and gismondite structures (named NaX-C and NaP1-C, respectively) in pilot scale using the single-step hydrothermal conversion. The possibility of using the obtained composites in the petroleum substances removal was studied. The materials were characterized by means of particle size distribution, CHN elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, DTA/TG thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as BET surface area and pore structural analysis. The adsorption performance was examined using a Westinghouse procedure towards engine oil, used engine oil and kerosene. HCFA and composites exhibited high content of carbon (28.1–44.5%), accompanied by mineral phase abundant with silica and alumina (18.2–30.2% and 10.0–13.6%, respectively). The composites revealed a presence of well-defined zeolite crystals formed onto carbonaceous surface and more developed textural parameters in relation to HCFA. Specific surface area SBET of HCFA, zeolite-carbon composites NaP1-C and NaX-C was 46, 249 and 67 m2/g, respectively. The sorption capacity towards oils was 1.14–1.39 g/g for HCFA, 1.1–1.54 g/g for NaX-C, 1.32–1.69 g/g for NaP1-C depending on the oil properties as well as the particle size and pore structure of the adsorbent.