Ceramic granules forming from calcium sodium aluminosilicate and carboxymethyl cellulose

Calcium sodium aluminosilicate with a molar ratio of 1 : 1 : 2 : 8 of CaO: Al2O3 : Na2O : SiO2, was successfully synthesized, by a sol-gel process using chicken eggshell powder as the starting material, through the calcination at 300 degrees C for 1 hr. Carboxymethyl cellulose was used as an organic binder to produce the granulation of the ceramic powder without altering any ceramic powder properties. The calcium sodium aluminosilicate granules possess the specific surface area of 38.89 m(2) g(-1), the pore volume of 0.37 cm(3), the average pore diameter of 38.34 nm, and the true density of 1.96 g cm(-3). The obtained ceramic granule is of a very fine particle and it is white in color. The obtained ceramic granules possess good flowing ability and uniform granule size. Fourier transformation infrared spectra (FTIR), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), scanning electron micrographs (SEM), transmission electron micrographs (TEM), and physical properties are reported to confirm the existence of the ceramic granules.