Synthesis and characterization of zeolite Y from agricultural and municipal wastes: A waste management approach

Here in, we reported the utilization of guinea corn husk (an agricultural waste) and aluminium can (a municipal waste) for low-cost and sustainable means of zeolite Y preparation. Sodium silicate and sodium aluminate precursors were prepared from guinea corn husk and aluminium wastes respectively. The obtained solutions of the precursors were directly and hydrothermally converted to zeolite Y at 100 °C crystallization temperature for 24 h. The resulting zeolitic material was characterized by its properties. In comparison with collected standard data and commercially available zeolite Y, zeolite Y was successfully prepared from the waste resources. The result of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) indicated zeolite Y with good crystallinity, especially at the characteristic 2θ of 6.23°, 10.9° and 11.86°. The elemental compositions observed from Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) are in appropriate proportion and also confirmed the product. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra showed the major characteristic absorption bands of zeolite in the mid-infrared region. It can be concluded that re-using agricultural and municipal wastes for the preparation of zeolite Y was achieved. This is a sustainable means of preparation of zeolite Y through a waste management approach for potential applications in adsorption, catalysis and ion exchange.