A simple thermogravimetric method for the evaluation of the degree of fly ash conversion into zeolite material

The thermogravimetry was used for the evaluation of degree of conversion of fly ash into zeolite material alongside the CEC and XRD methods being currently proposed for this purpose. The present work proposes the calculation of the thermogravimetric fly ash-to-zeolite conversion factor, CFTGA, based on the comparison of the mass loss of the commercial zeolite (standard) occurred during dehydration with that of the fly ash-derived zeolite. This mass loss is characteristic of a specific zeolite type, and the corresponding zeolite water content in the sample of zeolites indicates their degree of crystallinity and zeolite phase content. The use of the TGA method for the indirect determination of the fly ash-to-zeolite conversion factor would be preferable owing to its speed compared to other methods proposed for this purpose, as well as the capability to use a consistent procedure. Because of its short CFTGA determination procedure, the thermogravimetric method can be used for the control and determination of the quality of fly ash-derived zeolite in an industrial plant.