Determination of swelling operation parameters to improve the hierarchy of natural zeolite Lampung after synthesis

Abstract

The swelling method constitutes a component of the hierarchical synthesis step of Natural Zeolite Lampung (NZL). The literature review results indicate that NZL swelling is a pretreatment integral to the synthesis process of NZL. The synthesis of Lampung natural zeolite (NZL) was conducted to form hierarchical zeolites. NZL, as a hierarchical zeolite, is defined as a system containing additional pores. The formation of secondary porosity distinguishes it, reduction of alkali and alkaline earth metals, removal of impurities, transformation of symmetric to asymmetric strains, increase in acidity, and most importantly, the occurrence of dealumination and desilication processes as the cause of the achievement of these indicators. Generally, the initial post-synthesis modification sequence, which typically involves acid and base treatment, is carried out separately. In this study, however, the dealumination and desilication modifications will be carried out simultaneously in a single process, namely by the swelling method. Consequently, it is essential to ascertain the optimal operating parameters at the requisite atmospheric pressure, thus enabling the simultaneous dealumination and desilication processes within the NZL swelling method. In this case, the swelling method is a pretreatment analogous to the initial zeolite activation conducted in previous studies. The swelling NZL method can potentially overcome the laborious and expensive synthesis procedures that currently limit the scale-up of this material into large-scale production.