Withaya Panpa. Preparation of photocatalytic material from zeolite synthesized by using rice husk silica. Doctoral Degree(Materials Science). Chulalongkorn University. Center of Academic Resources. : Chulalongkorn University, 2008.
Preparation of photocatalytic material from zeolite synthesized by using rice husk silica
Abstract:
Local rice husk was precleaned by acid leaching and properly heat treated at 700 ℃ for 3 h to produce high purity amorphous SiO₂ for use in the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite and silicalite by hydrothermal treatment (150 ℃) of the precursor gels (pH 11) under autogenous pressure in a short reaction time (4-24 h). A wide range of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratios (30-2075) and a small template content were employed to fully exploit the potential of rice husk ash (RHA). Under the employed conditions, it was found that the gels with a low range of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratios (<80) produced an amorphous phase to poorly crystalline ZSM-5 zeolite; those with a medium range (80-200) favored well crystalline ZSM-5 zeolite production with a large surface area; whilst those with a high range of SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratios (>200) yielded silicalite. The increase in Na₂O content, which was derived from the addition of NaAlO₂ to attain the desired SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of the gel, did not significantly enhance the crystallization rate, crystallinity, or yield of products. On the contrary, these properties were greatly affected by the increase in the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio. Moreover, the ZSM-5 synthesized from RHA was impregnated in TiO2 sol hydrolyzed from TiOSO₄ salt to prepare TiO2/ZSM-5 composites. The combined effect of these two materials greatly enhanced the photocatalytic decolorization of methylene blue dye solution. The instant decolorization of the dye solution in the dark by composite, TiO2/ZSM-5 (wt ratio 1:1), resulted from the combination of the adsorption by ZSM-5 zeolite and TiO₂ nano-particles, and of Na₂SO₄ salt adhering to the composite surface. As a strong flocculating agent, the SO₄2- ion caused the precipitation of the dye onto the composite surface which consequently enhanced the photocatalytic decolorization of the dye under UV irradiation. The composite, TiO2/ZSM-5 (wt ratio 1:5), completely decolorized the methylene blue dye in 2.5 h, giving an equivalent performance to that of TiO₂, P-25 powder.