One-Step Synthesis of Hydroxysodalite Using Natural Bentonite at Moderate Temperatures

Abstract

Ca-bentonite was used as the feedstock material for the synthesis of hydroxysodalite due to its high Al, Si content, good chemical reactivity, and natural abundance. A one-step method is proposed here to fabricate hydroxysodalite in a water bath at moderate temperature. The effects of the Na/Si molar ratio, Si/Al molar ratio, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the synthesis of hydroxysodalite have been systematically investigated here. The crystallizing phases and morphology of the synthetic products were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The results showed that the Na/Si molar ratio and reaction temperature both played important roles in controlling the degree of crystallinity of the synthetic hydroxysodalite. The Si/Al molar ratio and reaction time both affect the purity of the synthetic hydroxysodalite. Optimum conditions for synthesizing hydroxysodalite using a one-step water-bath method at moderate temperature are as follows: a Na/Si molar ratio of 12, a Si/Al molar ratio of 1.0, a reaction temperature of 90 °C, and a reaction time of 12 h.

Keywords

• preparation
• hydroxysodalite
• bentonite
• alkali-activation
• water-bath