LTA Zeolite from Rice Husk Ash: Influence of the Silicon Source

The use of agricultural residues in products of commercial interest plays an increasingly important role in the world, which has a growing source of income in agribusiness. The current study investigates the potential use of rice husk ash (RHA) produced using different biomass combustion techniques as an alternative source of silica for the synthesis of LTA zeolites. RHA used in this work did not undergo any previous treatments and the zeolite synthesis was performed on the absence of an organic structure directing agent. Rice husk was submitted to three different burning processes: grate, fluidized bed, and under controlled laboratory conditions. Zeolite LTA was prepared via direct dissolution of the RHA. The obtained zeolite material was characterized crystallographic and morphological. LTA framework structure was successfully obtained using all types of RHA.