Zeolites NaA is one of the most valuable synthetic zeolites widely used as ion-exchange material, catalysts, and adsorbents in industry. There is therefore need to adopt a more energy-efficient route for its synthesis from low-cost and sustainable raw materials. In this present work, zeolites Na-A was synthesized from natural kaolinite clays obtained from three selected regions (Ikere, Okpella and Kankara) in Nigeria. The as-received kaolinite clays (IKclay, OKclay and KAclay) were initially beneficiated thoroughly to obtain pure powders (˂75 μm). The processed kaolinite clay powders were then subjected to heating in a muffle furnace at 850oC for 3 h at a heating rate of 10oC/min to convert the kaolinite clays to their respective metakaolins. The obtained metakaolins were then reacted with NaOH solutions at varying concentrations of 3.0 and 4.0M respectively using a low temperature hydrothermal transformation to obtained Zeolites Na-A powders. The obtained zeolites were then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results showed that zeolite NaA is produced with mixture of hydroxysodalite (HS) while the EDS revealed the presence of Si, Al, O and Na indicating chemical constituents of typical zeolite NaA. All the tested kaolinite clays are therefore suitable for preparation of zeolite NaA as cheaper source of silica and aluminum.
Frit is an essential material required in the composition of low temperature glazes. Unfortunately, up till the year 2020 appropriate furnace for local production of frit is scarce in Nigeria. This may be due to the prohibitive prices of customary refractory materials, exorbitant cost for construction of a standard frit furnace, and the epileptic power supply to run a frit producing plant. Consequently, previous attempts to produce frit locally ended up in losses and products froth with impurities. In this work, the continuous-flow frit kiln with a sloping floor design was modified and a prototype was constructed using locally sourced refractory. The working section was lined with highly corrosion resistance monolith produced with a ramming mass composed of zircon and kaolinite. It has a volume of 10.62 litre. The furnace runs on butane gas, it is fed with pre-treated precursor in granules form and capable of continuous production of 30 kg of frit per hour (kg/h) at 1100 oC. With the appropriate burner, the furnace achieved the optimum operation temperature of 1100oC within two hours. The design is suitable for private studio, research and educational institutions. It can also be scaled up for industrial uses.
Introduction: Despite the efforts of Governments and non-governmental organizations in sponsoring ceramic water purifier (CWP) filter project across the globe, some rural communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria are yet to benefit from it. One of the major technical difficulties hindering the making of CWP filter cells in many places was the adaptation to the sand, clay and sawdust mixture necessary to obtain the correct filter properties.
Aim: In this study, some salient properties of clay from orudi, arade and oturo deposits at Isan Ekiti were assessed in the light of their usefulness for making the ceramic water filter cells.
Methodology: The particle size distribution analysis and consistency tests were carried out on the crude clay. Also the shrinkage, effects of percentage constituents of burnout on porosity, filtration rate and quality of filtrate were measured, using standard methods.
Results: Results show that arade has the appropriate technical properties for making the filter cell. The chosen clay sample has its deposit less than 2 kilometers to the point of making. About 56% of its particles are less than 0.075mm equivalent spherical diameter (ESD). A composition of ratio 50:50 by volume mixture of clay to sawdust has the porosity of 54. 55% while that of ratio 40:60 is 55.56%. Samples made of these batches were capable of reducing the water turbidity Neflometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) of contaminated water by 95%. The 50:50 samples have the higher capacity of reducing total coliform count by 50.28% as against 25.07% for 40:60 samples.
Conclusion: Given appropriate facilities and training, with the abundant clay at arade deposit, the pottery center is a place where CWP filter cell factory could be established.
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