The Influence of Foaming Agent Towards Metakaolin Based Alkali Activated Materials Properties and Cu2+ Adsorption

Abstract

The performance of adsorbent synthesized by alkali activation of aluminosilicate precursor metakaolin with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) as well as the foaming agent was studied for copper ions adsorption from aqueous solution. This paper investigated the effect of adding hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and aluminium powder as foaming agents to an alkali activated materials slurry. The experimental range included 0.50 wt%, 0.75 wt%, and 1.00 wt% hydrogen peroxide and 0.02 wt%, 0.04 wt%, and 0.06 wt% aluminium powder. A control sample without a foaming agent was also created for comparison. The specific surface area, water absorption, density, compressive strength and microstructure of metakaolin based alkali activated materials were evaluated. The adsorption capability of Cu2+ with addition of hydrogen peroxide and aluminium powder was then tested. Results indicate hydrogen peroxide addition had superior pore size distribution and homogeneous porosity than aluminium powder, implying improved copper ion elimination. Cu2+ adsorption capability reached 98% with 0.75 wt% hydrogen peroxide and 24.6076 m2/g surface area. The results demonstrating that low cost metakaolin-based AAMs are the most effective adsorbent for removing copper ions.

Keywords

• metakaolin
• alkali activated materials
• hydrogen peroxide
• aluminium powder and copper ions adsorption