Process for preparing detergent builder zeolite - A from kimberlite tailings

[0108] Example 1

[0109] Under reflux conditions and continuous stirring, 500 g of kimberlite tailings were digested in a round bottom flask with 100 g of NaOH and 1280 g of tap water at boiling temperature for 5 hours. After the digestion is complete, the sodium silicate is isolated by filtration. To prepare the sodium aluminate solution, 7.9 g of NaOH and 6.3 g of aluminum trihydrate were dissolved in 17.4 g of water under continuous stirring and heating. For gel formation, 62 g of sodium silicate (with 2.93% Na 2 O and 7.75% SiO 2 ) into a stainless steel container, and the sodium aluminate solution was added to the container at a controlled rate at ambient temperature with stirring. It was then transferred to a closed reactor and crystallized at 95°C for 2.5 hours. After crystallization, the product slurry was filtered and washed with deionized water until the pH of the filtrate was ~10.5. The wet cake was dried in an oven at 110°C for 6 hours. X-ray diffraction analysis of this product showed a pattern matching that reported for Zeolite-A.

[0110] Example 2

[0111] Under reflux conditions and continuous stirring, 500 g of kimberlite tailings were digested in a round bottom flask with 100 g of NaOH and 1280 g of tap water at boiling temperature for 5 hours. After the digestion is complete, the sodium silicate is isolated by filtration. To prepare the sodium aluminate solution, 7.9 g of NaOH and 6.3 g of aluminum trihydrate were dissolved in 17.4 g of water under continuous stirring and heating. For gel formation, 62 g of sodium silicate (with 2.93% Na 2 O and 7.75% SiO 2 ) into a stainless steel container, and the sodium aluminate solution was added to the container at a controlled rate at ambient temperature with stirring. It was then transferred to a closed reactor and crystallized at 95°C for 1.0 hour. After crystallization, the product slurry was filtered and washed with deionized water until the pH of the filtrate was ~10.5. The wet cake was dried in an oven at 110°C for 6 hours. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the obtained product was in an amorphous phase, which may be due to insufficient crystallization time.

[0112] Example 3

[0113] Under reflux conditions and continuous stirring, 72 g of kimberlite tailings were digested in a round bottom flask with 20 g of NaOH and 200 g of tap water at boiling temperature for 5 hours. After the digestion is complete, the sodium silicate is isolated by filtration. To prepare the sodium aluminate solution, 7.44 g of NaOH and 6.28 g of aluminum trihydrate were dissolved in 54.46 g of water under continuous stirring and heating. For gel formation, 25.20 g of sodium silicate (with 8.62% Na 2 O and 19.05% SiO 2 ) into a stainless steel container, and the sodium aluminate solution was added to this container at a controlled rate at ambient temperature with stirring. After preparation of the gel, 100 mg of Zeolite-A was added as seed crystals. It was then transferred to a closed reactor and crystallized at 95°C for 1.0 hour. After crystallization, the product slurry was filtered and washed with deionized water until the pH of the filtrate was ~10.5. The wet cake was dried in an oven at 110°C for 6 hours. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the obtained product was in an amorphous phase, which may be due to insufficient crystallization time. It also concluded that seeding was not beneficial.