Effect of Dyes on Surface Area of Zeolites From Kaolin

Abstract- Synthesis of zeolite from kaolinite clay is a very promising process requiring thorough beneficiation and calcinations to obtain purer monomer. Kaolinite clay sourced from Kankara Nigeria is associated with inherent impurities making its transformation rather challenging. The addition of dye though assisted in inhibiting the negative effects of impure phases on the desired end products and increases the nucleation growth but it could also affect the specific surface area s.s.a of the as-synthesized zeolites as well as product coloration. Specific surface area results from five types of dyes were used in this work namely fuchsine malachite green toluidine blue methylene blue and crystal violet were compared with those obtained from ageing alkalinity and crystallization time for the un-dyed materials. XRF XRD SEM and BET analytical technique were employed in monomer and products characterization. The s.s.a for products obtained investigating aging crystallization time and alkalinity were 470m2g 375m2g and 275m2g respectively. The introduced dyes recorded s.s.a of 220m2g 340m2g 265m2g 335m2g and 520m2g respectively for fuchsine malachite green toluidine blue methylene blue and crystal violet. The properties of the as-synthesized zeolites especially s.s.a were observed to correlate with the dyes polar surface area psa and its bulkiness. The dye with the lowest psa gave product with the highest s.s.a an indication of its pore penetration capability leading to reduce level of segregation and better crystallinity.