Although clinoptilolite is the most abundant zeolite mineral in nature, its synthesis under laboratory conditions has been difficult. A partial crystallization field study was done for the synthesis of clinoptilolite based on a nominal batch composition of 2.1Na 2 O:Al 2 O 3 :10Si 2 O:110H 2 O to delineate the limits of composition and temperature within which sodium clinoptilolite can be produced as a single phase in high yields. Effects of temperature, SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 molar ratio in the batch composition, and the use of different raw materials in batch preparation were studied. The need for the use of seed crystals for reproducible synthesis of clinoptilolite was established.
Reproducible synthesis of clinoptilolite as the single crystalline phase was achieved in the narrow crystallization field at or around the nominal batch composition of 2.1(Na 2 O+K 2 O):Al 2 O 3 :10SiO 2 :110H 2 O at 140 °C. Clinoptilolites of high purity were crystallized in the pure sodium or mixed sodium-potassium cation systems. Partial replacement of hydroxyl anions with the salts of carbonates or chlorides also yielded clinoptilolite as the single crystalline phase although at lower crystallization rates.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.