Aras Kantautas

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on zeolite NaA synthesized from by-product silica.

The synthesis of zeolite NaA from silica by-product was carried out in the presence of 20 kHz ultrasound at room temperature. Zeolites obtained in this type of synthesis were compared to zeolites obtained by performing conventional static syntheses under similar conditions. The sonication effects on zeolite NaA synthesis were characterized by phase identification, crystallinity etc. The effects of different parameters such as crystallization time and initial materials preparation methods on the crystallinity and morphology of the synthesized zeolites were investigated. The final products were characterized by XRD and FT-IR. It was possible to obtain crystalline zeolite NaA from by-product silica in the presence of ultrasound.

Utilization of by-product waste silica in concrete - based materials

The usage of waste silica from AlF 3 production is limited due to admixtures of fluoride in its composition. The negative effect of admixtures was eliminated by thermally activating this silica gel. After thermal activation the mineralogical composition of silica gel changes. Fluorine is binding in low-reactive compounds, which insignificant effect on the cement hydration process. The possibilities of using waste by-product silica in hardened cement paste were investigated. Silica gel could be used as additive of the hardened cement paste after thermal activation (1 hour at 800 °C temperature). It was discovered that the optimum content of thermally activated technogenic silica gel additive under the conditions explored was up to 10% of the total quantity of the cement. After 28 days of hardening, the strength of hardened cement paste increased 7 MPa when the quantity of the additive was – 10% of the total weight when compared to the strength qualities of the samples with no additives used.